‘I wanted the 17-hour journey to be slow, not fast’: Readers’ Favorite European Trips | European Vacations

Ferry crossing Albanian fjords

Instead of the 4-hour car journey from Koman to Fierze, relax and enjoy Albania’s fjords via the Drin River. We returned to the Berisha ferry, which had 10 cars and foot passengers. Regardless of the weather, everyone sits on the deck and takes in the view. The view begins with an incredibly straight white line on the rocks, marking the water level during the rainy season. The scenery was amazing, with forested hills and high rocky mountains with different colored geological formations. Occasionally, isolated houses could be seen in the distance. After 2 hours we started spotting small tourist boats and hardy kayakers before reaching Fierse.
roy messenger

High ridership on buses in Montenegro and Croatia

A scenic bus journey from Podgorica to Dubrovnik reveals a tapestry of the Balkan Peninsula’s natural splendor. After filling your stomach with steak and black risotto in Montenegro’s capital, it’s a blissful journey through rugged landscapes. The view of the Bay of Kotor is one of his many highlights. Winding roads follow the coastline, offering glimpses of the azure sea against the backdrop of lush cliffs. The colors of the Adriatic Sea contrast with the earthy tones of the coast. The finale is the unveiling of Dubrovnik’s ancient walls, welcoming visitors with their timeless charm and charm.
everly

Cycling adventure in Norway’s Lofoten Islands

The mountains of the Lofoten Islands in Norway’s Arctic Circle are perfect for exploring by bike between the islands rather than across them. I have never seen such impressive serrated mountains from a bicycle and with so little effort. The bridges that connect the islands become even more interesting. I started in Svolvær and ended in Haut, the southern tip of the archipelago. This was the most beautiful of the villages, all with red wooden houses and racks of cod that were always hung out to dry. You can take your bicycle on the bus for the return trip.
paul kirkwood

Enjoy the midnight sun on a Scandinavian ferry

One slow, romantic trip I enjoyed last summer was on an open-air deck passage across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki to Stockholm. Even better, this route is part of Interrail, so he gets a 30% discount on the €95 one-way Tallink ferry fare. I was lucky enough to shoot in June and watched the sun set at 3am and rise a few hours later. In Scandinavia, this period is known as the White Nights. It’s magical to be on the water, watching the sun cast its light on the waves and the moonlight play with the ripples, as the ship glides towards its destination, the lights of the land twinkling in the distance. I wanted the 17-hour journey to go slower, not faster.
Ann

Follow Selo’s footsteps across Europe to Istanbul

I traveled from the outskirts of Manchester to Istanbul to recreate the European itinerary of Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar. I followed the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express route using Interrail’s Global Pass. We took slow trains, fast trains, communist-era trains, and graffiti-covered trains to get to our destination (plus a short bus detour). With stops in Lausanne and Zagreb, and an overnight train from Sofia, I detoured around Geneva and Lake Maggiore, sipped cold beers in the Austrian alpine mountains, and spent my time looking down at dystopian Serbia. I marveled at Croatia’s pastel yellow train stations and felt a wonderful glow as I walked out of Sirkeci station into the wild heartbeat of Istanbul.
Li Hanbei

Leisurely traverse the Aegean Sea for a market day

Last summer, while vacationing in Kos, I invited my parents on a ferry trip to Daça, Turkey, for the day. It was 3^1/21 hour round trip (about 30 euros). As we emerged from the port of Kos, the gentle breeze of the Aegean sea felt nice and provided relief from the scorching heat as we sat outside. Parking at the dacha, I was immediately struck by the quiet harbor, the hillside houses, and the white boats moored on the water. Since it was a market day, we enjoyed the aroma of exotic local spices and were invited by the vendor to drink freshly brewed Turkish tea. They were happy to talk to us and offer us figs and dates. One vendor gave us a ride in an open truck to the ferry to help transport the hand-woven rug we had purchased.beautiful sunset and some To imitate (twisted bread with sesame seeds), cheese, and olives, so I had a peaceful ride home.
April

Best Belgrade train trip without bars

The train journey from Belgrade to Bar must have been one of the slowest in Europe, taking 11 hours to cover 496 miles, but it more than made up for it with one of the most dramatic trains I’ve ever seen. We were able to pass through some of the scenery. Passing deep canyons, canyons and mountain peaks, the train crossed over his 400 bridges and stopped at seemingly every village. At one point we were passed by an old woman riding a donkey. Summer is the best time to appreciate its beauty with long daylight hours.
peter

Coastline of the Gods to Tropea, Italy

The railway line from Pizzo to Reggio Calabria follows the Coast of the Gods, named for its turquoise waters, sheltered coves and rocky landscapes. The train passes through Tropea (a town founded by Hercules in Greek mythology and famous for its onions), the castle and beautiful beaches of Scilla (of Scylla and Charybdis), and Reggio (with its life-size ancient Greek statues). Masu. The virtues of Calabria are: Cucina Poverathe local bergamot liqueur makes a great spritz, along with some great vegetable dishes.
sari

Winning tips: Bikes, birds and beaches in Vlieland, Netherlands

This car-free paradise is accessible by two ferries. After catching the Newcastle Ferry to Amsterdam, I headed straight to the sundeck for a G&T. Further north, in Harlingen, another ferry took him to Vlieland in an hour and a half. I raced through the dunes and rode my bike to an endless stretch of sand. I enjoyed the Clunes Polder, a birdwatcher’s paradise. There we spotted spoonbills and many other birds. It’s very quiet. This small island has plenty of bike paths and only one restaurant, the village of Oost He Vlieland. Helberg van Vlieland was my favorite.
Monique Gadera