CNT ~ Articles ~ Europe ~ Conde Nast

2 ~~~ CNT ~ The best Christmas markets in Europe


For some old-fashioned festive shopping, top up the glühwein and head to one of Europe's German-style Christmas markets

From traditional Danish decorations to handcrafted wooden toys in Italy and hip Helsinki designs,
the Christmas markets in Europe are brilliant for scooping up really original Christmas presents that you won’t find on the high street.

Here are the best.

We’ll be updating our guide regularly as the restrictions change and more timings become available –
but we recommend you look at individual market websites direct before you visit, should any have since closed at short notice.


www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-christmas-markets-in-europe

24 November 2020

4 ~~~ Hotel Scheizerhof, Zermatt review: First In ~ Conde Nast Traveller ~~~

Charm. a tricky quality to pin down. Elusive. Subjective. Yet, however you define it – or if you prefer to nod in agreement with Justice Potter Stewart, late of the American Supreme Court, who coined the phrase ‘I know it when I see it’ – I think it is safe to say that the village of Zermatt has it in spades.

This is not simply a visual thing, though it would be absurd to deny that its mountains are, at any time of year, whether blanketed in snow or strewn with wild flowers, magnificent. The charm has a human aspect as well. I recall being greeted one luminous afternoon in February, years ago, at Chez Vrony – for my money the loveliest restaurant in the Swiss Alps – by a complete stranger. 

As I stomped up the creaking wooden steps, a crinkly fellow, a local I supposed, addressed me by name, extended a protective arm, ushered me to a table with an unobscured view of the Matterhorn and said gravely: ‘But my dear boy! You must be exhausted! Come! Sit down! May I bring you a glass of Petite Arvine? A bottle?’ This was Max Cotting-Julen, who, with his wife Vrony, runs the restaurant that bears her name in a meadow dotted with wonky farmhouses near the Sunnegga lift station, and into which I plodded so gracelessly. 

For a moment he made me feel like a millionaire or a movie star or what PG Wodehouse might have termed an om seerioo. Now that, I thought, is charm.

www.cntraveller.com/gallery/hotel-schweizerhof-zermatt-review-first-in

6 January 2019

6 ~~~ 25 Best Beaches in Europe ~ Conde Nast Traveler ~~~

We might not all be able to travel to Europe right now while the coronavirus continues to circulate, 

but we can still dream of the best beaches in Europe to plot our next coastal escape. 

From a white sand beauty on one of Spain's Balearic Islands to an under-the-radar gem above the Arctic Circle (yes, really), 

and a French hideout that inspired Monet, we've rounded up the continent's most impressive waterfront stretches. 

We can practically feel a tan coming already. 

Here, the 25 best beaches in Europe.

This gallery was last published in 2019.

It has been updated with new information.

www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-07-14/10-best-beaches-in-europe ~

29 July 2020 ~

8 ~~~ Where to See the Northern Lights in the Contiguous United States


Bookmark these seven U.S. getaways outside Alaska for your next aurora-hunting adventure.

If and when the conditions are right, you can catch auroras in most northern-border states such as Maine or Montana. And catching the lights here isn’t merely a pipe dream: In early October 2021, northern lights painted the skies from New Hampshire to Glacier National Park. One month before that, aurora hunters caught them in North Dakota. And they danced as low as Muskegon, Michigan, in the spring.

Aurora experts say there’s more where that came from. The sun sparks northern lights during solar storms, when it emits charged particles that collide with Earth’s atmosphere, creating the glowing green, purple, and even red displays that top travelers’ bucket lists. In December 2019, the sun entered a new cycle of solar activity—and this transition bodes well for those eager to spot auroras.

“The solar cycle is associated with an increase in solar activity,” says Mike Shaw, an astrophotographer and co-founder of the annual Aurora Summit. Each solar cycle is roughly 11 years long; the mid-point, roughly five years in, is the peak of northern-lights activity, known as solar maximum. “A new cycle correspondingly increases aurora activity, so the next several years will be much better than the last several years,” Shaw says.

www.cntraveler.com/story/where-to-see-the-northern-lights-in-the-contiguous-united-states#

27 October 2021

10 ~~~ A Guide to the Eurail Pass: What to Know About Train Travel in Europe


The multi-stop rail ticket is an iconic and budget-friendly way to tour Europe—as long as you're maximizing the perks.


www.cntraveler.com/story/eurail-pass-guide

1 November 2021

12 ~~~ Where to Find Iceland’s Most Exciting New Geothermal Pools


From float therapy at the Blue Lagoon to forest bathing in the north,

Iceland’s newest spa experiences offer a deep dive into the country’s bathing culture.


www.cntraveler.com/story/where-to-find-icelands-most-exciting-new-geothermal-pools#

6 January 2022

From Alpine villages to Mediterranean escapes.

Too many travelers overlook small towns in Europe.
When it comes to European vacations, big culture-driven cities like Rome and Paris tend to get all the attention.
But between all the landmarks and selfie-taking tourists, you’ll find hundreds of charming spots in Europe with populations smaller than the line for the Eiffel Tower.
And despite their petite size, they still offer the same great architecture and beautiful natural surroundings as their metropolitan counterparts.

Whether it's a lakeside hamlet in Austria or a hauntingly beautiful village in Romania, these 26 storybook towns are the stuff European dreams are made of.
Fair warning: There are many charming bell towers and cobblestoned streets ahead.

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.


www.cntraveler.com/gallery/25-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-europe?

Refresh: 30 June 2022

16 ~~~ The 14 prettiest places in Europe ~~~


White-sand beaches, bucolic towns, idyllic islands and picture-perfect archipelagos

Europe may be one of the smallest continents, but what it lacks in size,
it more than makes up for in astonishingly diverse, jaw-droppingly gorgeous scenery.

From rugged national parks to white-sand beaches, remote archipelagos to big-hitting cities,
we’ve rounded up the prettiest in Europe to add to your bucket list.


www.cntraveller.com/gallery/prettiest-places-in-europe?

20 July 2022 

18 ~~~ 9 of the best places to travel without getting on a plane ~~~


In the words of John Denver, "we’re leavin' on… anything but a jet plane"

Thanks to our endeavours to reduce our carbon footprint, the variety of ‘no-fly’ holidays now open to us are a wide and varied clutch of destinations.

From the canal-clad cobbled streets of Ghent and Amsterdam to the vast, open landscapes of the Alps and beyond, getting your fill of foreign culture and overseas downtime no longer needs to include a plane.

This is good news for anyone hoping to travel this summer.

Opting for a no-fly or slow travel break comes with added charm too.

Travelling to and from your destination becomes a form of exploration in itself, from views stretching out to the horizon from a ferry viewing deck to the new perspective that is to be found onboard a train winding its way through undulating countryside, you’re about to see the world in a new light.


www.cntraveller.com/gallery/travel-without-flying?

31 July 2022

20 ~~~ The best winter-sun destinations in Europe


Keep your next trip closer to home with our pick of Europe’s best winter-sun destinations

The Thai islands or Bali may be more synonymous with scorching-hot beaches in January, but there are alternatives for when you just want a quick blast of vitamin D to see you through to March.

From golden islands to city breaks bathed in elusive December sunshine, these warmer climes in Europe mean escaping the blustery UK days are just a quick plane right away. For some further-flung ideas, see our pick of the best winter-sun destinations.


www.cntraveller.com/gallery/winter-sun-europe#

25 August 2022

22 ~~~ The best destinations to visit via Eurostar


Historic sights, exquisite European fare and indulgent hotel stays.

You can have it all within a few hours in these destinations – without even heading to an airport

When we were young, boarding a train – hand clutching that of our parents – felt like the beginning of a magical experience.

We were enamoured by the size of its wheels, by the undulating countryside that whipped past the windows and that familiar squeak of the trolley, laden with a smorgasbord of snacks.

In short, a rail journey when we were mere children felt like the destination in and of itself.

Even if we’d have just landed back at the same station we’d set off from, we’d be happy.

And though we are now less enchanted by the gentle chug of the vessel, travelling by train still manages to retain its charm; it’s often eco-friendly, it’s comfortable and you hardly ever need to queue to check your bags in.

The crucial difference now? We do care about the destination.

Which is why, when it comes to taking a long-distance trip across Europe, the Eurostar’s myriad stops are too enticing to resist.

As we make our way through historic towns and across beautiful countryside at a leisurely pace, the rare chance to watch everyday life unfold outside the window – sans the stress of passport control – only prefices the excitement of the holiday to come.

So, in an ode to the glorious freedom of train travel, we’ve rounded-up some of our favourite destinations to visit via Eurostar this year and beyond.

As Richard Ratliff said, “the journey has its own lyrics, a duet of balanced motion, the rails and wheels in tune.”



www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-eurostar-destinations?

3 September 2022

24 ~~~ The 26 Most Beautiful Castles in Europe


Eat your heart out, Disney.


What is it about castles that are so alluring to travelers?

Aside from getting us one step closer to living out our fairytale fantasies, the staggering structures showcase some of the world’s best architecture, most stunning landscapes, and maybe even a ghost story or two.

There’s perhaps no better place on earth to find awe-inspiring castles than in Europe, where it seems like you can’t visit a city or take a road trip without stumbling upon some sort of royal dwelling.

Here you’ll find medieval stone walls, sky-high towers, and bridges arching over glittering moats, everywhere from the Bavarian Alps to the Mediterranean coast.

Check out this list of the 26 most beautiful castles in Europe, and get ready to feel like the true royalty you are.

This post has been updated with new information since its original publish date.



www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-03-17/the-most-beautiful-castles-in-europe#

6 September 2022

26 ~~~ The best cities in Europe: 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 


From classic city-break destinations to smaller, quieter places, these are the best cities in Europe as voted for by the readers of Condé Nast Traveller

In order to make the cut for our list of the best cities in Europe, certain criteria must be met.

A city should have a world-class food scene, plenty of smart hotels, friendly locals and intriguing history.

In this year's Readers' Choice Awards survey, multiple cities in Italy and Spain ranked highly – but you also voted for cities in Germany, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

In fact, cities across Scandinavia are well-loved by Condé Nast Traveller readers, with three cities from the region making the top five – pipped only to the post for the top spot by a diminutive Spanish city set right on the sea.

These are the cities in Europe, according to the 2022 Readers' Choice Awards.

The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.



www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-cities-in-europe#

17 November 2022

28 ~~~ 10 of the cheapest nicest European cities to add to your bucket list ~~~


Affordable ideas that won’t break the bank, from classics and capitals to under-the-radar regions

Spending time in any city can be one of the most effective ways to tap into that country’s culture.

Whether it’s a whirlwind weekend or a fortnight of getting to know a new neighbourhood, city breaks offer a full-bodied, in-at-the-deep-end immersion that beach resorts and remote country hotels seldom can.

But that cultural crash course can come with a price tag, and hidden ones at that; flights from London to Venice sell for as low as £11, but it’s one of Europe’s most expensive cities for accommodation and food.

So we’ve broken down some of the latest data on the cheapest city breaks in Europe for 2023, from a coastal cosmopolis to a snow-capped ski city.

Note: you’ll notice some wonderful European cities missing from this list, namely Kiev in Ukraine.

It has been tragically affected by the war in Ukraine, and should be avoided until safe to visit – until then, find out how to help the people of Ukraine right now, and see how you can support through your travel choices.



www.cntraveller.com/gallery/cheapest-city-breaks-in-europe#

20 November 2022