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Europe’s Dream Trips

Posted by Camille Dubois on 11-09-2026

Travel and Fun

Europe is particularly rewarding when the journey matters as much as the final destination. Instead of flying directly into one city and staying there, travellers can follow volcanic roads, cross borders overnight by train, move between Mediterranean islands or spend several days exploring a coastline.

These seven routes are among the most memorable options for 2026, combining scenery, culture and practical ways to slow down and experience more along the way.

Iceland’s Ring Road

Iceland’s 1,322 km Ring Road circles almost the entire country, passing waterfalls, lava fields, geothermal landscapes, black-sand beaches and remote stretches of coastline.

Route 1 is paved, so a standard car is suitable for the main circuit in normal conditions. However, weather can change quickly, particularly outside summer, and road conditions should always be checked before setting off.

Allow at least seven days for the full journey, although 10 days provides a much more comfortable pace. Reykjavík makes the natural starting point before continuing towards the south coast, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the Eastfjords, Lake Mývatn and northern Iceland.

Many of the country’s best-known landscapes can be enjoyed without an entrance ticket, making the car, accommodation and fuel the main expenses. Rather than changing hotels every night, consider staying two nights in selected areas to leave time for shorter hikes and unexpected stops.

September is particularly attractive because visitor numbers begin to fall while daylight hours remain long enough for road trips.

Europe by Sleeper Train

For travellers who would rather avoid driving, overnight rail offers one of the most enjoyable ways to connect several European cities.

European Sleeper currently links destinations including Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden and Prague. Tickets between Amsterdam and Berlin start from €49.99, while Amsterdam–Prague journeys are available from €79.99.

The main advantage is efficiency: instead of losing part of the day travelling to an airport, passengers board in one city centre and wake up in another.

Berlin and Prague work especially well as a two-city combination. Stay two or three nights in each rather than trying to add too many destinations. Booking early is worthwhile because the cheapest fares tend to disappear first, particularly around weekends and holidays.

Cinque Terre, Italy

September is one of the most appealing periods for visiting Cinque Terre. The grape harvest begins, temperatures are generally more comfortable for walking and the intense summer rush gradually starts to ease.

The five villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore — are connected by both railway and hiking paths.

In 2026, a one-day Cinque Terre Train Card costs €22 during quieter dates, €29.50 during medium-demand periods and €35 on the busiest days. Two-day cards cost between €36.50 and €61 depending on the period.

The card is particularly useful for travellers planning to move repeatedly between villages. Before hiking, check trail conditions because temporary closures can affect individual sections. The Monterosso–Vernazza route, for example, currently has a temporary diversion while remaining accessible by another entrance.

For a calmer experience, spend at least two nights in the area and visit the most popular villages early in the morning or towards evening.

Cinque Terre

The Côte d’Azur, France

The French Riviera is ideal for a rail-based coastal journey. Nice makes an excellent base, with easy connections to Antibes, Cannes, Menton and smaller towns along the Mediterranean.

Regional trains are usually more convenient than driving because parking can be difficult in the busiest resorts.

A standard one-way regional train ticket between Nice and Cannes currently costs €9.70. Services begin early in the morning and continue until late evening, making day trips easy without changing hotels.

Spend one day exploring Nice’s old town and waterfront, another in Antibes and a third travelling to Cannes or Menton. Travellers interested in art can also build the itinerary around the Riviera’s galleries and museums.

For food, moving a few streets away from the seafront usually provides a more relaxed experience. Local markets are also useful for putting together an inexpensive picnic with bread, cheese, fruit and regional produce.

Finnish Lapland

For travellers interested in huskies, the Arctic Circle Husky Park offers a summer and autumn visiting package for €30, while a 2 km guided husky ride with park access costs €85. Longer winter experiences are more expensive, with a 5 km ride starting from €110 during part of the season.

Allow three to four nights in Rovaniemi rather than treating it as a single-day stop. That gives enough flexibility for changing weather and improves the chances of seeing the northern lights when conditions cooperate.

Ionian Islands, Greece

The Ionian Islands are best explored slowly. Corfu is the obvious starting point, followed by smaller islands such as Paxos before continuing south towards Lefkada, Ithaka, Kefallonia and Zakynthos.

Corfu to Paxos is one of the easiest connections. Conventional ferry tickets can start around €20, while faster services are available from roughly €30 when booked directly with some operators. Other 2026 services list the crossing at €35.

The main challenge is not distance but scheduling. Ferry frequencies vary considerably by season, so it is better to check connections first and book accommodation afterwards.

Rather than trying to visit every island, choose two or three. Corfu and Paxos make an easy short combination, while travellers with a week or more can build a longer route farther south.

Late May, June and September are particularly appealing for avoiding the busiest weeks while still enjoying warm conditions.

Granada and Andalusia, Spain

Granada provides a strong final stop for a journey through southern Spain. The city combines historic neighbourhoods, viewpoints, traditional food and one of Europe’s most celebrated architectural complexes.

The Alhambra is the essential visit. In 2026, the standard general ticket costs €22 and includes the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife. From 1 April to 14 October, the monumental complex is open daily from 08:30 to 20:00.

Advance booking is strongly recommended because entry to the Nasrid Palaces is tied to a specific time slot. A cheaper gardens ticket costs €12.73, while a night visit to the Nasrid Palaces is also €12.

Stay at least two nights in Granada. Use one morning for the Alhambra, then explore Albaicín later in the day when temperatures are lower and the viewpoints are especially atmospheric.

Make the Journey Part of the Trip

What connects these routes is not a particular country or type of transport. It is the idea of travelling more slowly and allowing the route itself to become part of the holiday.

Iceland rewards spontaneous stops, sleeper trains turn transport into accommodation, Cinque Terre encourages walking between villages and the Ionian Islands require adapting to ferry rhythms rather than rushing between destinations.

The most successful itinerary is therefore not the one with the greatest number of places. Leaving enough time for each stop — and building in some flexibility — makes these journeys far more memorable than a schedule filled with constant transfers.