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SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

THE GRAND TOUR (40 DAYS)

For the travel-hungry soul who wants to see the most famous highlights of Europe—buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride. We highly recommend tackling this bad boy with the trusty help of budget airlines or a rail pass.

• LONDON (4 days)—God save the Queen. Your first stop on your full-fledged adventure begins in an English-speaking country (baby steps). Make London your cup of tea by delving into its music culture and royal history. Here’s hoping you’ll catch a glimpse of the Queen (no, no, no not Elizabeth, J.K. Rowling). (see p. 258)

• COPENHAGEN (2 days)—It’s time to venture north, as in Nordic. Blond people, Viking history, a whole soap opera of feuds with Sweden, and, of course, insane taxes await you in Denmark. Time to immerse yourself in Copenhagen’s hygge. (see p. 121)

• AMSTERDAM (3 days)—Amsterdam has it all: imperial history, artistic pedigree, and killer music. Burn some calories in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world and see some classic Dutch windmills. Let’s not forget crossing over to the dark side either; if you so choose, the coffeeshop scene is out there—just keep this part of the trip to yourself (Mom doesn’t want to know). (see p. 462)

• PARIS (4 days)—Go ahead, be romantic. This is the quintessential European destination for artists, lovers, tourists, foodies, and romantics alike. If you don’t go here on your Grand Tour, you didn’t go to Europe. Paris, enchanté. (see p. 173)

• BARCELONA (3 days)—Get your Gaudí on in one of the hottest (and we mean searing hot) parts of Europe. Architecture geeks will be awestruck by the beauty of La Sagrada Familia, foodies will triumph in the exquisite Catalan cuisine, and soccer fans will rejoice in the buzz of one of the world’s most beloved teams at the Camp Nou. Let’s get Messi. (see p. 542)

• LISBON (2 days)—Part of the beauty of Lisbon is that it’s largely undiscovered. This hidden gem is bound to blow your mind with its seafood delights and geographic wonders. It’s time for leg day, so gear up to hike as you soak up the sun and culture in Lisboa. (see p. 521)

• MADRID (2 days)—The Spanish capital reigns with the promise of pitchers of sangria, one of the most poppin’ nightlife scenes on the globe, and countless opportunities to explore Spanish history from the Age of Exploration to present day. Madrid loves you already and you will fall for it even harder. (see p. 571)

• ROME (4 days)—Hop on that vespa, baby. It’s time to talk fast, move your hands fast, and drive even faster. Get the best of the old Roman Empire and the new Roman paradise in the Eternal City. Gelato will cool you down as you climb Palatine Hill and pretend to be a gladiator in The Roman Colosseum. (see p. 429)

• FLORENCE (3 days)—Travel back in time to the Renaissance and get #cultured in this epicenter of art. This is Michelangelo’s hometown, but today it is a modern hotspot for art, music, shopping, and gelato-mongering. (see p. 394)

• PRAGUE (3 days)—Prague’s Old Town looks like a fairytale and it’s time to make your dreams come true. This often-overlooked gem boasts must-sees like the Charles Bridge and castle, but the young and grungy bars, beer gardens, and galleries are more eager to see you. (see p. 100)

• MUNICH (2 days)—Munich is the quintessential German city, layered in tradition. Munich is a little quiter than other cities, but you can still appreciate its Bavarian roots as you tour its high-quality beer gardens. (see p. 230)

• BERLIN (3 days)—Pick up the pace and head to a city that never sleeps. Riddled with the history of a war-torn city and trendy, exclusive club scenes, Berlin is a true cosmopolitan center. Make sure you say, “Hallo!” to Merkel for us. (see p. 202)

• ATHENS (3 days)—Make your way back down south and turn up the temperature. Climb Mount Olympus, walk around the ruins of the Acropolis, and find your Adonis or Aphrodite under the sweet, Greek sun. Apollo, is that you? (see p. 296)

• SPLIT (2 days)—Top it all off in the Balkans. Split is the place to cool down, relax, and enjoy the beach as you dance the night away. (see p. 81)

ISLAND HOPPING (14 DAYS)

Does Europe even have any islands, you ask? That’s preposterous. Tons of lively ones eagerly await you on your European adventure. We’re talking palm trees, sand, pebbly beaches, bumping party beats, and master DJs. Tell Corona we’ve found our beach.

• IBIZA (2 days)—Kick it off with superstar DJs like David Guetta and show Mike Posner you can handle a rager better than he can in the nightclubs of this iconic Spanish island. (see p. 563)

• MALTA (3 days)—Combine cliff-jumping with clubbing in this 122-mile archipelago. The best part? You can mix the history of repeated conquest by the Phoenicians and Romans and the colonial rule of the British into your island vacation by visiting limestone temples, ancient ruins, and monumental forts. (see p. 404)

• MYKONOS (3 days)—Party animals all around the world hear the word “Mykonos” and know it’s the holy grail of fun. Skip the architectural wonders of Ancient Greece and head straight here for nights to remember. (see p. 316)

• HVAR (3 days)—Hvar are you doing today? Not good? Swing by this Croatian island on the iconic Riva of Hvar. You’ve got nothing but clubbing, beach parties, and cheap alcohol ahead of you. (see p. 75)

• VENICE (3 days)—Okay, well Venice isn’t exactly one island. Think more like 118. Venice is connected by a series of foot bridges that cross over the city’s 170 boat canals. Close out your trip with a little culture on the glass-making island of Murano and with the lace-specialists in Burano. (see p. 450)

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES (23 DAYS)

If you’ve got a green thumb, then you’ll be glad to know Europe has much for you to see in the form of extravagance. The Romans, for example, were fixated with controlling nature and, as a result, created beautiful gardens with immaculately manicured plants in the strangest of shapes. We’re not quite sure of the origins of the other gardens around the continent, but these are feats of man and nature that would make even the most talented gardener jealous. What do you have? Tomato vines? Growing upside down? Amateur.

• FLORENCE (3 days)—The Boboli Gardens at Florence’s Palazzo Pitti are truly a sight to behold. Climb lots (and we mean lots) of stairs as you walk through what feels like the gardens of Sleeping Beauty’s castle—without Maleficent trying to keep the prince out. (see p. 394)

• VIENNA (4 days)—The gardens of Schönnbrunn Palace await your royal highness. And, if that doesn’t entertain you, the Hapsburgs also have gardens at the Belvedere for your pleasure. (see p. 37)

• PARIS (5 days)—The Jardin des Plantes lies in the fifth arrondissement and is the main botanical garden in France. (see p. 173)

• BARCELONA (4 days)—Parc Guëll. Garden? Outdoor space? Architectural wonder of Antoni Gaudí? All of the above. (see p. 542)

• MALMÖ (2 days)—Aah Slottsträdgården, complete with orderly, manicured hedges and multiple plots including a Steppe Garden and Japanese Garden that will make your jaw drop. (see p. 624)

• LONDON (5 days)—The Royal Parks are undoubtedly majestic. Hyde Park and Regent’s Park are full of green spaces in an urban setting while the famed Kensington Gardens serves as the front yard for a king, situated right in front of the stunning palace. (see p. 258)

CALL OF THE WILD (12 DAYS)

We get it—you’re Wilderness First-Aid Certified, you’ve spent every summer as a camp counselor in the middle of the forest, and you’ve hiked 111 miles solo. You’re coming to Europe for the outdoor adventures—to get in touch with nature, if you will. In that case, we’ve got you covered. Lace up your hiking boots.

• REYKJAVIK (3 days)—Reykjavik is an excellent place to set up camp to do outdoorsy day trips in Iceland. Some of our favorites include the Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle. (see p. 350)

• OSLO (2 days)—Oslo Sommerpark is guaranteed to put the overeager kid spirit back in you, featuring a wicked obstacle course that allows you to climb 20 meters into the trees. Tarzan who? (see p. 480)

• GIMMELWALD (3 days)—This secluded mountain town in the Alps is a hidden gem: paraglide in the mountains, watch glaciers collide, and hike difficult, pristine trails. (see p. 644)

• SPLIT (2 days)—Get a drink on the rocks and then cliff jump off the rocks (into the Mediterranean). Note: Let’s Go does not endorse drinking and jumping. (see p. 81)

• LAGOS (2 days)—If outdoor adventures at the beach are what you seek, opt for a change of pace in southern Portugal, kayaking off the coast in the Iberian Peninsula. (see p. 515)