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Top 7 Destinations in 2021 & 2022
After a year of small getaway, interrupted holidays, or a lack of holidays, we have prepared our favourite European escapes from sunny Spain all the way to the imposing scenery of Scotland. Here is our list of post lockdown of the Top 7 Destinations to visit, and stay in some of the world’s best hotels this year, pandemic permitting.
1. Italy
City break heavyweights, from Venice and Milan, to Rome and Florence. The vineyards, the lakes, the mountains, the islands, the Mediterranean. Every inch of Italy is postcard-worthy, all inspired by millennia of romance, intrigue and cultured creativity. Wander through Sicilian olive groves, explore the rolling hills of Tuscany on horseback, sit beneath lemon trees and pastel-coloured parasols on the Amalfi Coast with an Aperol Spritz in hand, and discover Roman ruins in the ancient capital. Not to mention the food, and do not get us started on the wine.
2. Greece
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Greece and its welcoming locals, who are steeped in the art of hospitality. An ancient land with many modern charms, its whitewashed walls, cerulean blue cupolas framed by fuchsia flowers, olive-scented groves, and architectural treasures from Classical antiquity, both the mainland and its countless islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian Seas have long captivated travellers. The windmills of Mykonos, the colourful clifftop villages of Santorini, the towering columns of Athens‘ Acropolis…need we say more?
3. France
As one of Europe’s largest countries, France offers an endless array of experiences. You’ll find vibrant city breaks and quaint country retreats, rustic vineyards and exclusive beach resorts, cultural treasures and culinary artworks. Like a bottle of the finest Bordeaux, it is a destination with depth, complexity and no shortage of style. Linger over delicate macaroons in the artisan bakeries of Ile de Saint Louis in Paris, cycle through fields of fragrant lavender in Provence, and soak up the sun from a striped lounger on the Côte d’Azur – the experiences are endless, and equally elegant.
4. Portugal
Like the drink that bears its name, Portugal is best savoured slowly. In the north you’ll find remote country retreats, the vineyard-dotted slopes of the Douro Valley and the UNESCO world-heritage site of Oporto. As you head south, there are historic cities such as Coimbra and Lisbon to discover, as well as lesser-known gems hidden in the countryside. Finally, you reach the sun-strewn Algarve with its African influences, world-class golf and spas.
5. Spain
There’s more to Spain than just sun, azure seas, and ice-cold sangria – browse Barcelona‘s colourful architectural masterpieces, or bustling flea markets in Madrid, hop from tapas bar to tapas bar in Seville before putting your feet up and sipping vino tinto beneath a shady orange tree. Slip into Balearic Island bliss on Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca, and their little sister, Formentera where whitewashed fishing villages meet bleached blonde sands.
6. Scotland
From heather-dotted coastlines, hilltop castles and stone-clad villages to craggy peaks and mystical lochs, Scotland is home to some of the most ruggedly beautiful scenery in the world. Head to the Highlands to experience wilderness with the spectacular backdrop of Ben Nevis, the UK‘s highest peak, pick up some Scottish souvenirs from Edinburgh‘s Royal Mile or colourful Grassmarket shops leading up to the castle, and go for bracing beach walks along the Gullane coast, just a caber’s toss from the country’s capital.
7. Switzerland
Look beyond Switzerland‘s age-old clichés of chocolate, cheese, and cuckoo clocks, and discover the beauty of the Matterhorn and the glamorous, luxury ski resorts of Gstaad, Verbier, and St. Moritz, train rides through deep alpine valleys, and fine dining in cities as impressive as the surrounding landscape. Stroll along avenues bordered by graceful townhouses in Zürich, home to works by the world’s most revered artists, or wander through historic cobbled streets and peaceful parks along the shore of Lake Geneva.
