The Grain and Grape

We’re often asked which are our favorite travel destinations. We have enjoyed everywhere we’ve been, but there are a few spots that stand out, ones that we’d like to visit again. So here they are, in no particular order, our Top 5 Favorite Travel Destinations in Europe.

#1 PORTUGAL

Portugal is a beautiful, friendly, and inexpensive travel destination. The capital city of Lisbon offers much to see and do, and is a great home base for taking day trips to see the National Palace of Pena, the pilgrimage site of Fatima, the walled town of Obidos, and the beach at Nazare. Or, visit the southwest coast of The Algarve with both stunning beaches and quaint towns.

#2 CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague is a well-preserved medieval city, set on a river with hilltop views of red roofs and church steeples. There are amazing photo opportunities all around Old Town, from the famous Charles Bridge, the castle, monastery, cathedrals, and vineyards, to clever and fun artsy stores and pubs. We would love to return to Prague, and to explore more of the Czech Republic, both for visiting historic monasteries, and seeing the countryside.

#3 CROATIA

We loved our visit to Dubrovnik, Croatia, and we’re so glad we were able to visit during the off-season when it wasn’t very crowded, as it is a popular tourist destination. May or September should be ideal, both for the weather and fewer crowds. We plan to see even more of Croatia: Split, Opatija, Pula, and Plitvice Lakes National Park, for a start.

#4 TURKEY

Istanbul, Turkey was a surprise, as we didn’t know quite what to expect. The city is full of history, crowds, and energy. It offers warmth and hospitality to tourists, along with a great souvenirs, and wonderful culinary adventures. We would return to Istanbul and would also like to see more of Turkey.

#5 THE BRITISH ISLES

OK, we’re doing a bit of cheating on this last one, as we combine a few of our favorites into one location category. The British Isles consist of Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales. We love all of these destinations, they each offer stunning scenery, history, and especially fun times. London, Dublin, and Edinburgh are all fabulous to visit, and we also loved seeing a bit of the countryside in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. We have much more of this area to explore, from Isle of Arran to Inverness, from Donegal to Cornwall, from Welsh Castles to the Scottish Highlands.

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These are our Top 5 Travel Destinations in Europe, ones that we can’t wait until we can visit again. We hope this is helpful to anyone planning a trip!

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