Europe

Eco-friendly travel guide to Europe advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Europe.

Moscow, Russia

Air quality: 3.0 - 5.0 / 5

Bus connections: 2.5 - 5.0 / 5

Train connections: 3.0 - 5.0 / 5

Hitchhiking: 3.0 - 4.5 / 5

National parks: 3.0 - 5.0 / 5

Outdoor activities: 3.5 - 5.0 / 5

Locals' English level: 2.0 - 5.0 / 5

Safety: 2.5 - 5.0 / 5

Accommodation: US$20 - $1200

Budget per day: US$40 - $2000

Responsible Travel

Europe ranks six on the list of continents by size. Europe is the western bit of the Eurasian landmass and is found altogether in the Northern Hemisphere. A few bigger islands have a place with Europe, for example, Iceland or the British Isles with the UK and Ireland. Europe is comprised of 50 nations. By the customary definition, there are 44 sovereign states or countries in Europe. An expected 747 million individuals live in Europe. The most crowded country in Europe is the European part of Russia with a populace of 110 million individuals, trailed by Germany with 83 million residents, and Metropolitan France with 67 million occupants.

Europe was the first of the significant world districts to build up an advanced economy dependent on business agriculture, and the modern turn of events with an arrangement of particular administrations. Its effective modernization can be followed to the landmass' rich reserves of economic assets, its set of experiences of developments, the advancement of a gifted and instructed workforce, and the interconnectedness of every one of its parts which encouraged the simple development of monstrous amounts of raw materials and completed products and the correspondence of ideas. Many metropolitan regions, particularly in western Europe, have become a national and international interest for specific businesses and high-innovation administrations. Considering much of this, tourism is a major industry in Europe as individuals from all across the globe flock here to experience the sheer magnificence and high standards of living. A considerable lot is even inspired to set up base here and as a result of all of the above, the continent does face a few environmental issues despite all the advancements, hence, as tourists, it is your absolute responsibility to ensure that you minimise your impact on the continent while travelling to any of the countries here. Thus, given in this section of the article are a few tips to help you be a truly ‘responsible tourist’.

Eco friendly Accommodation: The starting point of planning a holiday is usually looking at accommodation options. This is where you need to start thinking about minimising your environmental impact when travelling. Choosing an eco friendly or green hotel does not mean that you will have to sacrifice luxury for it. There are so many countries like Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland etc that have excellent green hotels. These hotels take measures like recycling waste, conserving the use of energy and water, providing food made of organic produce etc which massively helps with conserving the environment.

Eat Local food: Buy the food from street food stalls or small restaurants. This is because most of the big restaurant chains or fast food conglomerates are guilty of producing so much waste and directly contributing the problem of pollution and climate change due to their harmful business models. Not only do the small business owners need the help of tourists to run their business and provide for their family but they also have ethical practices for example most of them do not use plastic.

Shop Local: In order to support local craftsmen and artisans always shop local. There are many brilliant artisans with small scale businesses that have an excellent variety of products and an eco friendly business model but most people choose bigger high street brands over them which not only contributes to the problem of pollution but also makes it difficult for small business owners to sustain their ventures. Likewise, this will help the local economy in a huge way as you will put money directly into the pockets of the makers/producers. This is especially vital in the small European countries which are known to be in the midst of economic crises.

Use Public Transportation': The best thing about touring Europe is the world-class and extremely reliable public transportation in most countries, do your best and use public transportation as much as you can. While there are an exorbitant number of options and the comfort of a private vehicle or a taxi is definitely more lucrative, it is best that you use the buses, the subways, and even bicycles. These are eco-friendly, economical and they massively help you with diminishing your carbon impression.

Air Quality and Pollution

Europe has a mild environment, with polar environment conditions along quite a bit of its northern coast and subtropical conditions along its southern coast. Four territorial European climatic sorts can be approximately recognized. Be that as it may, each is portrayed by much local, geographically related variety. The environment in uneven locales, for example, is partly controlled by altitude. The western zones are intensely presented to Atlantic winds, the oceanic kind of environment given the latitudinal stretch of those terrains displays sharp temperature ranges.

Hence, the January and July yearly midpoints of Reykjavík, Iceland, are around 0 °C and 12 °C individually and those of Coruña, Spain, are around 10 °C and 18 °C. Precipitation is consistently sufficient without a doubt, bountiful on high ground and falls all year. The best measure of precipitation happens in fall or late-fall. Summer ranges from warm to blistering contingent upon scope and height and the climate is variable all over the place. 'The oceanic environment stretches out across Svalbard, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Great Britain Ireland, Norway, southern Sweden, western France, northern Germany, and northwestern Spain.

In the Central part of Europe, there is a transitional sort of environment which results from the interaction of both oceanic and mainland air masses and is found at the centre of Europe, south and east of the maritime type, west of the lot bigger continental type, and north of the Mediterranean kind. That tough locale has colder winters, generous snowfalls, and hotter summers, particularly in the marshes. Precipitation is satisfactory to bountiful, with the greatest during summer. The district includes Sweden, southern Finland, the Oslo Basin of Norway, eastern France, southwestern Germany, and a lot of focal and southeastern Europe.

Air contamination hurts human wellbeing and the climate. In Europe, emanations of many air contaminations have diminished generously over the previous many years, bringing about improved air quality across the locale. In any case, air toxin fixations are still excessively high, and air quality issues persevere. A huge extent of Europe's populace lives in zones, particularly urban areas, where exceedances of air quality standards happen: ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM) contamination present genuine wellbeing chances. A few nations have surpassed at least one of their 2010 emanation limits for four significant air toxins. Diminishing air contamination hence stays significant.

There are different wellsprings of air contamination, both anthropogenic and of the characteristic cause, one of them is the consumption of petroleum products in transport, industry and households. Then agriculture and recycling does take up considerable energy and involves practices adding to pollution. Volcanic ejections, windblown residue, ocean salt splash and discharges of unstable natural mixtures from plants are instances of normal emanation sources. Lastly, mechanical cycles and dissolvable use, for instance in substance and mineral businesses add to the poor air quality.

The EU's drawn-out target is to accomplish levels of air quality that don't bring about unsatisfactory effects on, and dangers to, human wellbeing and the climate. The EU acts at numerous levels to lessen openness to air contamination: through enactment; participation with areas answerable for air contamination, just as international, national and territorial specialists and non-administrative associations; and exploration.

Respect the Culture

European cultural heritages is as broad and diverse as its history. Half of UNESCO’s world heritage sites are located in Europe

Respecting the culture starts from respecting the people. One thing you will notice about European people is that they are very open and free. While in some Southern European cultures you might find men, just friends, holding hands as they walk down the street, it’s not uncommon in Italy, Portugal, France or Russia for men to cheek kiss as a sign of friendship. You have to respect that and you have to respect their lifestyle whether it’s nude beaches or whether it’s religion, you should not pass negative comments on any of these things.

Following a certain decorum like thanking your hosts, not putting your phone on the ringer when in a museum or a theatre, tipping generously and treating your server nicely, all of these habits will show how you have a deep respect towards the people and the place.

Do not make sweeping judgements and remarks like all Europeans look the same and how there is one singular culture. For instance, a French speaking Belgian might be insulted if identified as a french individual. In England compared to the continent people can be quite serious about things. This could be how much emphasis they put on orderly queue or even how much they espouse not making a fuss. Learn about their cultural differences and don’t compare them in front of others calling one superior over the other.

Visiting countries like The Netherlands and Amsterdam specifically can be quite a shocking experience for some. The reason could be its open and diverse red light district or the fact that marijuana cafes are pretty common there. In most countries, you might find drugs and prostitution in rundown parts of town, but in Amsterdam it is safe and picturesque. So you have to keep in mind every country has its own set of rules and you can’t treat it as one land mass.

While it is important to establish the fact that Europe is a very diverse place with countless cultures it is also important to learn about traits, habits or actions that are common across most of the places. For example the eating habits of European people might be drastically different from where you come from. For instance in France, Italy or Spain, you might find that food is much more than sustenance and meal times are quite a cultivated matter. In Italy, you could expect to take a two hour lunch sometimes with wine, on a workday. In France or Spain dinner might last all night and again wine is often there at the table. It’s a time for sharing and talking and often many courses are served. If you are invited to a family dinner, you will be pleasantly surprised by the sheer volume of treats offered.

Another thing that is integral to know is how important public transportation is in Europe. People prefer using buses, metros, trains and bicycles over driving their own cars. This is the general trend that has been promoted in Europe ensuring that the citizens are aware of the impact individual cars and vehicles can have on the eco system. For example in The Netherlands, there is a special way of opening your car door so you will not open it on someone passing by on a bicycle. You should learn about the public transport system and use it as much as you can.

If you are going to spend a significant time in Europe then it will be good to prepare yourself for the most passionate and sometimes scariest sports fans you’ll ever see. While footballs hooliganism is sometimes said to be a British thing, it is widespread all over the continent. In Eastern European countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey or Croatia, you’ll find supporters with units that look more like special forces.

Another thing to keep in mind is that European cities are old and weren’t designed using easy to navigate systems. Wandering through alleyways in Rome, following those country roads in the Scottish countryside, or navigating the cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik is one of the highlights of any trip.

Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy, an example of Renaissance architecture

Top 10 Places to Visit

Europe is perhaps the most scenic continent in the world and the top 10 places for any tourist to visit on this continent are:

Iceland: It is a grand land sprinkled with a portion of the world's most enrapturing view. A meagrely populated island, this amazing spot has become one of the most desired of container list get-away objections. Experience searchers visit for its offbeat geology. You can gallivant across, through, or around everything from icy masses to fjords to volcanoes to ice caverns to waterfalls to mountain ranges. During the day, guests can shop, eat, or meet the super friendly locals in the country's greatest city, Reykjavik. Head out on a whale-watching visit, take a plunge in the Blue Lagoon, or climb through the magma fields of the Hekla well of lava. Make certain to visit Vatnajökull, the biggest (and generally great) ice sheet in Europe. At night, particularly in September and April, tourists are compensated with a phenomenal perspective on Aurora Borealis.

Denmark: This might be a relatively smaller nation, however, it does grow on you suddenly as soon as you reach this magnificent country. A cherishing climate, a friendly country, this Nordic star offers guests a spotless, quiet, and excellent excursion objective. Water is rarely far away, making it simple to unwind beachside on the shore of the Baltic Sea or kayak or fish in one of the sparkling lakes and streams. Among its 450-island archipelago, you'll discover towns spotted with wood homes, entirely prepped gardens, just as urban areas flaunting castles, museums, and carnivals (like Copenhagen, with Christiansborg Palace and Tivoli Gardens). The Danish compositional style is difficult to beat from lavish fortifications like Kronborg Castle to the super present-day National Maritime Museum in Helsingor to the brilliant shops and eateries of Copenhagen's Nyhaven harbour. Museums and Viking history have large amounts of Roskilde.

England: It doesn't take long for England to fascinate its guests. Best chatted with an umbrella close by, this oft stormy isle is one of the best places to visit in Europe. Wanting to meander through rustic open country, skipping with sheep as you meander over slopes and across dales? Head to the green valleys of the Lake District, a wonderland so lavish and rich, you'll need to set up a shelter and stay for quite a long time. To a greater extent a customer? Head to [[London[[, the notorious capital where you'll meet the most present-day yet downplayed fashion and styles of each season. You'll additionally be honoured with an endless assortment of top cafés and foods. Searching for celebrated manors? You'll see them in abundance in towns going from the huge, walled city of York to the more modest town of Leeds to the small town of Warwick, which is set upon the pleasant River Avon.

Germany: While Germany may not be the most sentimental European excursion objective, its fantastic views make it a commendable objective for each sort of explorer. Cosmopolitan objections like Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt offer voyagers the memorable culture they want as antiquated structures, landmarks, and museums. They additionally burst with shops and cafés that serve conventional sauerkraut and schnitzels blended in with more contemporary toll. The unassuming communities are the place where you'll locate a pleasant break from the rushing about of regular day to day existence. Bavaria's brilliant towns, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, and Nördlingen will lift your spirits and give your camera a genuine exercise. These curious towns are sprinkled with delightful leftovers of the past. In spite of enduring war, numerous antiquated pinnacles, temples, and houses stand solid, apathetically adding to the appeal and charm of these country delights.

Switzerland: One of the most costly nations to visit in the continent, Switzerland is more than worth its powerful sticker prices. Snowcapped mountains burst through the mists, rising up out of rich, verdant fields dabbed with sheep, extensive lakes stretch along the open country, offering a sparkling welcome to wilderness boating, paddling, fishing, and kayaking lovers. Little towns like Gimmelwald spout storybook enchant, spellbinding even the crankiest of explorers with their interesting shops and dissolve in-your-mouth chocolates. Bigger urban areas like Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, and Bern assist guests with getting their fill of both culture and magnificence in one go. You'll locate various noteworthy museums, art exhibitions, shops, and high-end food inside their boundaries. Zermatt is your one-stop look for winter sports, just as incredible Alpine climbs and adrenaline rushing sports.

Belgium: It compensates for its minor size with a boatload of appeal, also pleasant archaic towns, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and chocolate that will make your taste buds shout in joy. Did we notice the French Fries yet? Delish! The nation is informally separated into two fundamental locales: the French-talking and peaceful Wallonia in the south and the more cosmopolitan, Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north. Brussels is a major vacationer draw, offering guests a look at its most supernatural noteworthy structures, similar to La Grande Place (a.k.a. Gote Markt in Dutch) and Place Royal (a.k.a. Koningsplein). This is likewise where you'll discover mixed shops, delectable cafés, and phenomenal museums. Bruges is minuscule yet well celebrated and seemingly the country's most delightful town. Its waterways, which are effectively available by booking a boat journey, wind their way through the city, offering stunning perspectives on the mesmerising engineering and architecture.

The Netherlands: In informal ways known as Holland, the Netherlands offers guests a laid-back excursion loaded up with art, magnificence, and a ton of cycling. Situated in the northwest of Europe, sprinkled with windmills and fields overflowing with tulips in spring. The best spot to spot them is seemingly Keukenhof, otherwise called the "Garden of Europe."Amsterdam is one of the best urban areas to visit in the Netherlands. In spite of its fairly shabby standing, this trench loaded spot is wonderful and loaded up with amazing museums. Try not to miss the city's top attractions, the Rijksmuseum, Ann Frank's House, and Van Gogh Museum. You'll additionally discover bleeding edge, eco-friendly engineering blended in with the noteworthy constructions found in Rotterdam, Delft, and The Hague. Huge urban areas aren't your solitary alternative in the Netherlands. The charming fishing villas situated along the lake Ijsselmeer are deserving of a stop, particularly Marken, Volendam, and Enkhuizen.

France: Known for its sentiment, flavourful food, art, culture, and regular magnificence, this flawless nation offers all that you'd at any point need in an excursion. Each kind of explorer will discover something to adore in France. Lounge in the sun's beams and notice a superstar or two on the French Riviera. Allow your camera to go out of control shooting fields covered by lavender in Provence. Travel back so as to the UNESCO-recorded islet, Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy. Ski down the French Alps in Chamonix, Val d'Isère, or Méribel. Eat-in a bistro along the Champs-Elysée, visit a museum, climb the steps of the Eiffel Tower, or walk inseparably with your perfect partner along the River Seine in Paris.

Spain: One of the most delightful nations in Europe, Spain is likewise one of its best. From its design show-stoppers to its transcending mountain ranges, coastline precipices, and peak towns, your camera will thank you for visiting this mystical spot. No big surprise in excess of 89 million tourists visited Spain in 2018, making it the second most visited country on the planet. You'll discover a lot to see and do in the nation's top urban communities. Madrid is home to the exquisite Crystal Palace and sprawling gardens, just as rich courts. Valencia will alleviate your spirit with recuperating ocean sees, while Costa Brava offers probably the most dazzling beaches in Spain. More exquisite and sentimental, Seville's soundtrack comprises ponies' hooves on cobblestone roads and clanking ringers from chapel towers. Here, you'll find must-see attractions like the terrific Catedral de Sevilla, the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Real Alcázar, and the extensive Plaza de España. Try not to miss delightful Granada and its celebrated Alhambra castles. Lastly, Barcelona is both enthusiastic and laid back, including designs that would make Salvador Dali glad. Here Casa Mila and the madly novel Parc Güell are a must-visit.

Italy: It’s difficult to picture Italy without salivating over the possibility of its food. This shoe-shaped nation flaunts tomatoes so sweet they taste like treats, pizzas cooked flawlessly, and gelato that in a real sense liquefies in your mouth. Italy is an ideal world for gastronomes. Much more shining than its food are the perfect design and social magnum opuses found in the antiquated structures, squares, and museums sprinkled all through Italy's bustling urban communities and little, pleasant towns. History has large amounts of the attractions of Rome (we're discussing the Colosseum and Pantheon), and its exceptional town squares (for example Piazza Navona, St. Peter's Square, and Piazza Spagna) are a pleasure to appreciate. The trenches of Venice are sentimental and novel, while the monstrous Il Duomo, one of the top attractions in Milan, will make them ogle, as will the amazing outfits included in the city's numerous shops. The Amalfi Coast is just about as lovely as a postcard, which is the reason its bright towns are included on such a lot of vacationer kitsch. The countrysides are the places where you'll locate the truest Italian experience. From skiing to climbing to swimming to eating (obviously), the country's excellence encompasses guests, making it difficult to leave. Tuscany is a genuine victor, moving tourists back in time with its to a great extent immaculate dividers and pinnacles, while Lake Como offers a brief look into the ways of life of the world's 1%. Florence is home to the photograph commendable Duomo and Ponte Vecchio bridge, just as museums you will not have any desire to miss.

Iceland’s Northern Lights are one of its major attractions, competing only with other epic natural marvels such as the ice caves, glaciers, and volcanoes.

Explore

Exploring Europe is a dream for many and if you get the opportunity to live this dream, head to the below-listed places.

City Parks

Europe is a green destination with a huge number of parks and a great many trees, blossoms, miles of green yards sitting tight for you consistently. If you would like to move away from stress or you need a picnic Europe offers lovely parks for your satisfaction. A few of the best ones are listed below, make sure you visit them if you are headed to the continent:

Villa Borghese, Italy: It is an enormous scenic garden in the naturalistic English way in Rome, containing a number of structures, museums and attractions. It is the third biggest recreational area in Rome 148 acres of land after the ones of the Villa Doria Pamphili and Villa Ada. The gardens were produced for the Villa Borghese Pinciana ("Borghese estate on the Pincian Hill"), worked by the planner Flaminio Ponzio, creating outlines by Scipione Borghese, who utilized it as a manor suburbana, a party manor, at the edge of Rome, and to house his art assortment. The gardens as they are presently were revamped in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Phoenix Park, Ireland: It is spread over 1752 acres of land and is one of the biggest encased sporting spaces inside any European capital city. The Phoenix Park was set up in 1662 by one of Ireland's most renowned emissaries, James Butler, Duke of Ormond, in the interest of King Charles II. Imagined as a Royal deer park, it initially incorporated the demesne of Kilmainham Priory south of the River Liffey, however with the structure of the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham, which started in 1680, the Park was diminished to its current size, which is all now north of the stream.

The Englische Garten, Germany: English Garden is one of the biggest metropolitan parks on the planet. The design has undergone consistent change over time as new structures and green spaces were added on numerous occasions. The park was given the name Englische Garten on the grounds that it was spread out in the style of an English nation park.

Park Güell, Spain: At the point when Park Güell started to be implicit 1900, Barcelona was a cutting edge and cosmopolitan city whose economy depended on the strength of its industry and which had over a large portion of 1,000,000 occupants. Its walls had been thumped down almost 50 years sooner and the new city, the Eixample arranged by engineer Ildefons Cerdà, had developed terrifically from 1860 onwards, in what was the biggest nineteenth-century city improvement project in Europe.

The lush green Englische Garten

National Parks

Find the most lovely national parks in Europe. When you wish to run away from the volumes of people, stop remembering the beaches, stop remembering the urban areas and shopping, and come to unwind in the best national parks in Europe. Given below are some of the best national parks in Europe that you must visit:

The Triglav National Park, Slovenia: This is the solitary Slovenian national park. The park was named after Triglav, the most elevated mountain in the heart of the park, which is additionally the most noteworthy culmination in Slovenia. The mountain genuinely portrays the national image and is included on the national ensign and the banner.

Soomaa National Park, Estonia: The greenery of Soomaa National Park is reason enough for a visit. When going on the streams it is incredibly important to explore past fallen aspen trunks, commonly crafted by floods and beavers. Different indications of beavers, for example, bitten stumps and beaver lodges are regularly plainly obvious along the riverbanks.

Durmitor, Montenegro: The Park is situated at a wide mountain area in North West of Montenegro, restricted by Rivers Piva and Tara between which there are 23 peaks more than 2300 meters of height. Park is 39000 sections of land huge and incorporates 82 kilometres of gulch of the Tara with a height of 1600 meters above level of the River. The office of the Park is in Zabljak.

The Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany: This is a National Park in the German Free State of Saxony close to the capital city of Dresden. It covers two zones of 93.5 km² in the heart of the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains which is known as Saxon Switzerland. The National Park abuts the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Czech Republic.

The Plitvice lakes National Park, Croatia: It has a place in the Dinaric karst region and because of its particular topography, geomorphology and hydrology it genuinely is one of the greatest karst elements on the planet. Apart from the dolomitic stone, Mesozoic limestones with dolomite embeds are dominating here. The proportion between less permeable or water-holding dolomites and permeable Jurassic limestone residue in the karst has impacted the scene of the general region today. Explicit hydrology properties of rock have empowered water maintenance on Triassic dolomite rocks, just as gorge development by water slicing through Cretaceous limestone stores. Tufa obstructions are a wonder empowering water to stay inside the lakes.

View of the incredible Triglav National Park

Beaches

Some of the most scenic and lively beaches in Europe are:

San Fruttuoso, Liguria, Italy: Located somewhere between Portofino and the small community of Camogli, San Fruttuoso is pretty much as pure as Italian beaches come and that is saying something. The little bay's allure lies in its concealed area, you can just get here by climbing from Portofino or getting a ship, stunning blue water, and the setting of an archaic monastery encompassed by mountains.

Cala Macarella, Menorca, Spain: Located on the radiant southwestern shoreline of Menorca, the peaceful Cala Macarella is the ideal departure from the clogged beaches of close by Mallorca and Ibiza. Getting here can be a bit of a task: you can either climb two miles along the bluffs from close by Cala Galdana or drive on a harsh and twisting street from Ciutadella and climb 20 minutes through pine woodland. Yet, its super fine sand and quiet turquoise waters which merits the effort.

Fårö Island, Sweden: Fårö Island is a well-known summer destination for Swedes—and we can undoubtedly see why. Reached by ship from Gotland's northernmost point, the island is a different universe, consider it untamed Tasmania to Gotland's Australia. Indeed, even in a country with extraordinary scenes every step of the way, Fårö stands out: The whole island is made of limestone and is shockingly pleasant with its many stone arrangements.

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia, Greece: Lush green bluffs flank Myrtos Beach, a segregated spot on the northwestern shoreline of the island of Kefalonia. Its ivory sand is really comprised of coarse white stones, as opposed to the delicate, fine powder you'll discover on the island of Elafonisi, further south, however, you'll be excessively diverted by the cool, sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea to take note. Prepare sure to have your camera for the epic dusk, which goes down straightforwardly before the beach.

The gorgeous Cala Macarella

Landmarks

The landmarks in Europe are known to be so defining that their very name itself reflects the rich history and period in time that they were constructed and all the years that they have seen go by. Given below is a list of the most significant landmarks that you must visit on your trip to the continent:

La Sagrada Família, Spain: The unmatched accomplishment and fixation of renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, La Sagrada Família in Barcelona is among the most acclaimed milestones in Europe. One of a sort and built on an overwhelming scale, the neo-Gothic/Art Nouveau basilica stays a work in advancement for over a century after its development started in 1882. The outside is a wild presentation of mind-boggling towers, pinnacles, carvings, and figures that stretch upward, to statures of 566 feet. Zoom in to select fine and fantastical subtleties cut in stone, widely varied vegetation, nativity scenes and scriptural stories, and beasts and monsters flourish. Pondering the design's taking off inside, with enormous, bending columns coming to toward the focal nave in a scene suggestive of a woodland shelter, may very well make a devotee out of the irresolute.

Parthenos, Greece: The landmark was commissioned by the Athenian legislators Pericles in devotion to Athena Parthenos, the benefactor goddess of Athens just as to fill in as the city's depository. Quite a bit of what survives from the sanctuary today traces all the way back to the mid-fifth century BC. A precarious rising by walking on the Acropolis denotes an excursion back so as to the support of Western Civilization. Here, among the dispersed vestiges of old days, the 2,500-year-old Parthenon, set at the peak of the Acropolis, stays incomparable. As an issue of preservation, guests are not permitted inside the landmark. Nonetheless, taking in the outside doesn't baffle, with its 46 effortless sections and roost for clearing city sees. To more readily envision what the inside of the sanctuary was once similar to, you can see various sculptures and artefacts that were once sanctuary enhancements in the close by Acropolis Museum.

Colosseum, Italy: In addition to the fact that it is one of the most well-known tourist spots in Europe, yet Rome's Colosseum is likewise a suffering image of the antiquated world. Undoubtedly, the massive structure of the Colosseum is as much really something today as it was the point at which it was built almost 2,000 years prior. Examine it while strolling its borders, observing the travertine-clad dividers and threesome of layered seating levels, with curves covered by contrasting segment styles. Inside the designing accomplishment of its circular bowl, you can envision old scenes from the warriors and wild monsters that once struggled here at the stature of the Roman Empire, where about 50,000 onlookers took in fierce and bloody scenes of battle.

Eiffel Tower, France: Towering over the City of Lights, taking off over the southwest side of the city, it has become an image equivalent with Paris and even France overall. Conceptualised by French architect Gustave Eiffel as a brief yet progressive construction for the 1889 World's Fair, it's difficult to envision that the open-cross section, the fashioned iron pinnacle was bound to be destroyed after only 20 years. Surely, the pinnacle's surprising tasteful involved incredible public discussion, in any case, eventually, it was saved from destruction, on account of its utilitarian potential as a telecommunications tower. Today, the city's unique tower is a firm apparatus on the Parisian cityscape, checking one of the most renowned milestones in Europe and the world.

The Colosseum in Italy

Museums

Museums are a great place to learn about the history and culture of nations, hence given below are the best ones to learn more about Europe:

Musee Louvre, France: Most popular as home to Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa', it has one of the greatest art assortments on the planet. Difficult to be explored in a day, it's definitely worth visiting more than once. Open in 1793, it's home to somewhere in the range of 38,000 shows covering the time from Prehistory until the 21st century. Its assortment of Renaissance art and Egyptian assortment are the features of the museum. Other than the Mona Lisa, a portion of the top of the line paintings shall entice you equally.

Picasso Museum, Spain: Picasso lived during his vital years in Barcelona, those of his apprenticeship as an artist. He set up and kept up solid connections to the city for the duration of his life, and it was here where he needed his museum to be. Visiting Picasso Museum in Barcelona will help you get a superior understanding of his art and his movement. This museum shows his work on a timetable, permitting you to follow his works from the more customary ones of his initial a long time to the famous artistic creations and models from the finish of his vocation. Ensure you devote a lot of time to visit.

Vatican Museums, Italy: In the heart of Rome, the Vatican Museums hold one of the greatest and most significant assortments of art and relics on the planet. The museums were established by Pope Julius II in the mid-sixteenth century and kept on developing under progressive popes. Today the assortment aggregates more than 70,000 things including Ancient Roman sculptures and Renaissance magnum opuses, however, just 20,000 are right now in plain view. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel is the focal point and one of 54 displays in the Vatican Museums complex. The frescoes portraying scenes from the Bible's Book of Genesis are probably the most popular canvases on the planet.

Rijksmuseum, The Netherlands: The Royal Museum of the Netherlands or the Rijksmuseum is unquestionably a museum that shouldn't be missed. It's structure, worked back in 1885, is a piece of art itself. You can go through a day there simply by respecting its divider compositions and sculptures on its façade. It's additionally most likely the solitary museum on the planet with a street passing via it. EIght centuries of Dutch art and history with exhibits aplenty, almost 8000 are in plain view in the Rijksmuseum.

The courtyard of the Lourve

Eat

In the event that you've fantasised about eating your way through Europe, you're not alone. From rich stews and dumplings in the Balkans, to fish in the Mediterranean, exquisite cheeses all through, the mainland is a foodie's fantasy. With every country, there is one dish that stands out as the most recognisable, generally celebrated and generally pursued by guests: the food staple that individuals consider when they think about the spot. These customary food sources are flavourful, however, they additionally recount the account of a nation's set of experiences, individuals and conventions. Pizza, croissants, crème brûlée, Wiener Schnitzel, pasta and significantly more has been gifted to the world by Europe. There's undeniably more to European food than simply the works of art. They may not be too known, yet they're potentially significantly more scrumptious than their renowned counterparts. Make sure that you indulge in all these dishes without counting the calories to truly experience the very ethos of the different countries that make up this mesmerising continent.

Some different colours and shapes of pasta, at a pasta specialty store in Venice

Drink

The annual German festival, Oktoberfest which is held through September to October is a great way to learn about the drinking culture in Europe

How liquor is appreciated in various nations frequently shifts from district to locale particularly where custom and culture are concerned. Europe has a particular abundance of various drinking cultures, with such countless nations so near one another, all of which appreciate drinking conventions that can contrast incomprehensibly. Italy which is the home of good wine and pasta, the utilisation of liquor is characteristically connected to eating times and food. The French ordinarily enjoy the kinds of the refreshments that they burn-through, setting aside the effort to appreciate each component of their mixed beverages. They frequently do this not exclusively to appreciate the flavour of their beverages, however, to likewise intensify the experience of their dinner. While devouring liquor in France, it will in general be pretty much nothing and frequently, however the measures are more modest and the actual beverages are comfortable valued. With regards to Germany, one of the principal affiliations that everyone settles on with the nation's beverage of decision is brew. It's not astounding when you consider that Germans drink twenty-eight gallons per capita consistently, making them the third-biggest buyer of lager around the world. They have a whole celebration devoted to the refreshment, Oktoberfest, and lawfully, more youthful individuals are permitted to start drinking brew at 16 years old. Because of the sheer accessibility of brew, the demeanour towards drinking in Germany is substantially more easygoing, with the demonstration of going out for one lager and proceeding with the remainder of your day being a typical one. Like Italy, a great deal of the utilisation of liquor in Spain can be revolved around food. As an ordinary and regular part of a normal day, distinctive mixed beverages are burned-through dependent on the time and spot with a preconceived thought of what drinks you ought to appreciate when.

In addition to this, some of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks to try across Europe are:

Bicerin
Anijsmelk
Rabarbar Z Miodem
Apfelschorle
Horchata
Kompot

Tap-water

Tap water in most countries in Europe is known to be extremely safe for consumption. As a tourist, you will face no issues whatsoever, however, it is vital that you take into consideration on your own immunity and take risks suitably. If you are particular about taste and don’t wish to risk illnesses, then you can always opt for bottled mineral water or boiled regular water.

Activities

Although it is the second smallest continent, Europe welcomes more than half of all the tourists worldwide. It’s easy to see why, a well preserved cultural heritage, rich history, safety and efficient infrastructure makes visiting Europe a breeze. There is a host of activities that you can take part in Europe. Some of these include:

Riding the Alpine trains in Switzerland
Surfing in San Sebastián
Enjoying the water taxi in Venice
Soaking in a thermal bath in Budapest
Island hopping in Greece

Thermal Baths in Budapest

Accommodation

Whatever is your budget for the trip, there is no lack of accommodation options to rest while going around Europe. In the following sections, you'll find out about how to locate the best hostels, pocket-friendly hotels, rental apartments, and other convenience choices to accommodate your travel style.

Green Hotels

The Eco-travel industry is not, at this point a pattern, however, a centre rule for some voyagers that is setting down deep roots. Holidaymakers wherever are putting forth a greater amount of an attempt to limit their ecological effect when voyaging. Fortunately, that doesn't mean you need to forego familiar luxuries or extravagance. Numerous hotels are making up for lost time and understanding that visitors need to take more sustainable occasions without forfeiting their pleasure. That implies that discovering eco-friendly hotels in Europe has never been simpler. What these eco-facilities share for all intents and purpose is their devotion to supportability just as sustainability. To help you locate the ideal one for your outing, we've assembled a rundown of some astonishing eco-friendly hotels in Europe:

Vondelpark Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Green House, UK
Bohinj ECO Hotel, Slovenia
ION Luxury Adventure Hotel, Iceland
Whitepod, Switzerland
Forsthofalm, Austria
Green Solution House, Denmark
Tree Hotel, Sweden

Hostels and Guest Houses

Hostels in Europe are a very surprising variety now from the previous generations. We're talking top of the line configurations, astonishing bars, delectable food alternatives, painstakingly arranged rooms and new pals from everywhere in the world. While there still exist a lot of more essential alternatives, the essential hostel has come into its own. They normally offer a wide range of room alternatives. The biggest dormitories are the least expensive and may come with a private restroom divided among inhabitants. Then again, there may be a different washroom block with a lot of showers for a few rooms to share. Given below are some of the best options that you can take into consideration:

Hostel Van Gogh, The Netherlands
PLUS Berlin, Germany
Astor Museum Inn, England
Living Lounge Hostel, Portugal
The Loft Boutique Hostel Paris, France

Apartments

Renting apartments in European nations is known to be a truly basic decision. Regardless, the rent is significantly high in most major cities and as tourists, you would have to consider the decision in case you are living for huge time intervals, or when you regard your privacy while having a couple of mates living with you, that way you will avoid the outrageous rates and inflexible standards and rules of hotels. Nowadays you simply do not need to rely on Airbnb despite it being so popular, you have options such as Wimdu, 9flats, Clickstay, Flipkey and many more.

Couchsurfing

Couch surfing is an extremely popular accommodation option in Europe. Not only is it cheap and helps you save money, it’s also a great way to truly experience the local culture and interact with the local people. It gives you the right kind of raw exposure that is required in order to understand a place and it’s people.

Safety is not a huge concern if you are using this method through an official website and properly registering. You also have to do your part and create a legitimate profile in order to get a response and you can successfully couch surf through Europe if you are kind and gracious to all your hosts. Little gestures like bringing a small gift perhaps a handicraft from your native town or cleaning up after yourself and thanking your host will go a long way.

Camping

While camping may not be too popular in other continents, it is extremely popular in Europe and one of the most eco friendly ways of exploring as well. You can enjoy wild beauty spots, stargaze under the clear skies, go fishing and whatnot. The individuals who camp in Europe highly recommend it. A tent, pad, and hiking bed are all you require. Given below are some campsites worth visiting on your trip to the continent:

Camping de la Cascade, Coo, Belgium
Le Chant-hibou, Auvergne, France
D'Olde Kamp, Ansen, Netherlands
Camping Mexico, Bregenz, Austria
Zur Mühle, Black Forest, Germany

The magnificent Zur Mühle, Black Forest in Germany

Regions

Europe consists of a diverse set of countries that each have their own identity, language and culture. Below is a rough grouping of these countries into regions:

Map of Europe's regions

Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia)
The Balkans have a rich, though often turbulent, history with wonderful nature, charming multicultural towns, impressive monasteries and citadels dotting the hillsides, mighty mountains sprinkled with a liberal dose of beautiful forests and pleasant lakes.

Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
Three fascinating states that have glorious beaches along an extensive coastline, mediaeval old towns, and beautiful natural scenery. Estonia has linguistic and cultural ties with Finland.

Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands)
These supposedly flat states have a lot to offer the traveller. The Netherlands is known for its clogs, cheese, tulips and windmills, and for its liberal attitudes and painters. Belgium is a multilingual country with beautiful historic cities, bordering Luxembourg at the rolling hills of the Ardennes.

Britain and Ireland (Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, United Kingdom)
Britain is a diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures, possessing a fascinating history and dynamic modern culture, both of which remain hugely influential in the wider world. Ireland has rolling landscapes and characteristic customs, traditions and folklore.

Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland)
Straddling east and west, Central Europe is the region where Germanic culture meets Slavic culture. It is home to innumerable historic towns, fairy-tale castles, beer, forests, unspoiled farmland, and plenty of mountain ranges, including the mighty Alps and Carpathians.

France and Monaco
The world's most popular tourist destination and geographically one of the most diverse countries of Europe. Some of its tourist attractions include Paris, the French Riviera, the Atlantic beaches, the winter sports resorts of the Alps, the castles of the Loire Valley, Brittany and Normandy, and the rural landscape of the Provence. The country is also known for its gastronomy (particularly wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion.

Greece, Cyprus and Turkey
Counting the most amount of sun-hours in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean is a haven for beach-goers, party-people and cultural enthusiasts alike.

Iberia (Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain)
The Iberian countries are great destinations for their rich and unique cultures, lively cities, beautiful countryside and friendly inhabitants.

Italian Peninsula (Italy, Malta, San Marino, Vatican City)
Rome, Florence, Venice and Pisa are on many travellers' itineraries, but these are just a few of Italy's destinations. Italy has more history and culture packed into it than many other countries combined.

Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus
Russia is a country of vast, empty expanses that spans all the way east to the Pacific Ocean. Ukraine is a diverse country that has a lot to offer, from the beach resorts of the Black Sea to the beautiful cities Odessa, Lviv and Kiev. North of Ukraine lies Belarus, a country unlike anywhere else in Europe.

Nordic countries (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden)
Spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes. Finland is culturally distinct as it has a language unlike the Scandinavian languages.

Politically, some countries are a member of the European Union, a supranational and intergovernmental union that aims to integrate the states of Europe in a common political framework. However, Europe is a diverse region and countries have varying ideas of potential membership — some with no intention of joining at all. The eastern border of Europe is ill-defined. Parts of Russia, Turkey and the Caucasus are sometimes considered to be a part of Asia due to culture, history and geography.

Cities

Amsterdam — canals, Rembrandt, hashish and red lanterns, the epicentre of liberal attitudes
Athens - the Acropolis, ancient temples, medieval churches, early modern neoclassical mansions; the birthplace of Western civilization with a history of 3,400 years
Barcelona — Gaudi's cosmopolitan home on Mediterranean coast
Berlin — the capital of reunited Germany since 1990, it was divided by force for 45 years during the Cold War and has emerged as a international cultural centre and an area of rapid development since the fall of the Berlin Wall
Birmingham - The UK's second city, only hour and a half by train or just over two hours drive (117 miles ) from London. A lot less expensive than the capital but lots to see and do. Great nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The canal basin and network very impressive as are the civic buildings.
Budapest- The capital of Hungary, with its architecture, cuisine and buzzing nightlife is the 14th most visited place on Earth.River Danube adds to the romantic value of the city. Sometimes called Paris of East
Copenhagen - The fairytale city with the old gardens of Tivoli and Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. Also known for it's royal palaces and new scandinavian cuisine.
Istanbul — the only major city to span two continents and a fascinating melting pot of East and West
London — Britain's vibrant and truly multicultural capital
Moscow — Europe's largest city is famous for its nightlife and the iconic Kremlin
Munich — One of Germany´s most popular destinations. Don´t miss the largest beer festival - the Octoberfest
Paris — the capital of romance (and France) on the banks of the Seine

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

Prague — magical city with its renowned bridges spanning the Vltava River
Rome — the eternal city of seven hills and two thousand seven hundred years of history
Stockholm - Scandinavia's coolest capital and most important urban area. Famous for its beauty and the amazing archipelago. In addition, Stockholm offers a unique nightlife scene and it is home to some of Northern Europe's best restaurants.

Getting There and Moving Around

Travelling to Europe and moving around the continent will be relatively easy as the local transportation systems are known to be one of the most advanced in the world. The individual countries and their seamless connectivity within Europe and beyond the boundaries of the continent does ensure that the different modes of transport, though sometimes expensive, will help you travel in comfort, efficiently, and effortlessly. Given in the sections below are some of the different types of transportation that you should consider while visiting Europe.

Air

Being one of the most developed continents, Europe and its major cities are all known to be global airline hubs, thereby ensuring that you could catch a flight from almost any corner of the world and reach here easily. Some of the biggest air travel hubs in Europe include London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam and Brussels.

Central waiting Area inside the Heathrow Airport, London

Bus

Across Europe, traveling by bus is a popular choice for locals and tourists alike!

Buses are a safe and reliable option for both traveling within European countries such as France and Spain as often buses offer routes not only between cities but also to smaller locations that are harder to reach—even by train! Buses are also a great option for traveling across countries, with lots of companies offering intercontinental routes.

The biggest perk of traveling by bus is that it often the most cost-effective choice. Prices don't fluctuate as much meaning buses are a great option for those on a tighter budget or those who want to be more flexible with their plans.

Local bus in Berlin

Train

Particularly in Western and Central Europe, the trains are quick, proficient and cost-efficient in comparison to flying. Rapid trains like the Italian Frecciarossa, venturing to every part of the French TGV, the German ICE, the Spanish AVE and the cross-line Eurostar and Thalys administrations speed along over three hundred kilometres per hour and when considering the hassles of catching a flight and additional time spent, these are regularly quicker than taking the plane. The other side is that tickets purchased on the spot can be costly, despite the fact that there are acceptable limits accessible but on the off chance that you book ahead of time or exploit different arrangements it could be very economical and efficient.

European high-speed trains in Brussels

Hitchhiking

Hitching a ride in European nations is frequently known to be a very safe and secure bet. The local individuals are benevolent, considerate and friendly. This includes no monetary exchanges generally and a decent gesture on your part will be giving back in kind by purchasing your host some espresso or even maybe a meal on the excursion.

Others

Other options include cruise ships, ferry rides, electronic vehicles, bicycles etc. There is also the option to rent your own car but avoid doing that. It will just add up to your carbon footprint and is definitely not the most eco friendly option. Always be conscious of your choice of transport. One thing to keep in mind is that always choose the most eco friendly option when presented with a couple of different ones. For example if you have the option of flying to another country and going by road then choose the latter one.

Virtu Ferries operate from Malta to Sicily (Italy) by catamaran.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is the need of the hour. The amount of pollution and waste that the fast fashion industry produces amounts to 2.1 billion tonnes CO2eq. There needs to be significant shift towards buying sustainable products that last longer and are made of ethically sourced material. In Europe there is a growing number of ethical and sustainable brands that are working to change the industry for the better. If you are wondering which brands qualify as sustainable then there are some key points that you should keep in mind. A brand that treats is workers fairly across the supply chain, cares about its use of resources and energy, does not use animal products and is vegan is a brand that is sustainable. We all need to be conscious about what kind of products we invest our money into and the environmental impact they have.

Recycling

Europe is the leading continent when it comes to recycling, many of the countries based in Europe are known to be efficient recyclers and they even import waste to recycle from other nations. Hence, as a tourist, be assured of all your plastics, metals and glass disposals being recycled properly.

Waste

Waste collection across different countries in Europe is known to employ various types of methods but most of them are efficient and the general public is well aware of their civic duties as well.

Work and Study Abroad

Working and studying in Europe is the ultimate dream for many people across the globe. The high standards of the living, the strict labour laws, the good pay, the marvellous education system and the overall lifestyle appeals to many. In addition to this, the opportunities here support all of the above.

Exchange Student

Exchange students programmes are extremely popular and common in Europe. Some of the European countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden etc are extremely generous with their payment process and financial aid situation as well which makes it an even more lucrative choice for foreign students to spend their year abroad in Europe.

Au Pair

The concept of Au Pairs originated in Europe itself and it is a no-brainer that it is well renowned across the various countries here. As a young individual, if you wish to be one, just browse for listings on the internet, contact the host and initiate talks.

Volunteering

Volunteering in Europe is extremely easy as there are plenty of issues to tackle and there is a vast variety of organisations that are looking for helping hands. All you have to do is pick a cause that you strongly feel for and give back to society without using money.