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The best bits of Europe to head to right now

There’s no shortage of things to see and do across Europe, so we scoured the continent’s hottest travel destinations to bring you the latest and greatest travel experiences.

France

There’s no debating that Paris is well served by five-star hotels that make your eyes water with sky-high levels of elegance and luxury – think Peninsula Paris, Plaza Athénée, George V et al – but now the French capital has a budget offering worthy of its style and grace.

 

Generator Paris is the latest property from the purveyors of chic accommodation across Europe.

 

Situated in a formerly derelict office building in the up-and-coming 10th arrondissement, Generator Paris has lashings of the brand’s signature funky, eclectic design-style throughout, with a dash of Parisian flair thrown in for good measure.

 

Sleeping options include private double and twin rooms from $68 and the requisite dorm rooms, while downstairs there’s a lounge to hang out in, dining options and a 24-hour reception desk.

And while you’re there…

Check out the recently reopened Musée Picasso in the stunning Hotel Sale in Le Marais.

 

After an extensive US$66 million, five-year renovation (it was supposed to take two years) the museum now has 5000 works by the prolific artist on display, the biggest collection of Picasso’s works in the world.

Dinan streets appear frozen in time

Spain

The Andulusian city of Málaga, birthplace of one Pablo Picasso, is getting an injection of serious art cred this year with not one, not two, but three new museums opening their doors: The Pompidou Centre’s first museum outside of France – El Centro Pompidou de Malaga – will be housed in The Cube, a $9-million modern glass building in the revitilised marina area that will host a permanent modern art collection and arts events; the Saint Petersburg State Russian Museum will showcase at from the 15th to the 20th centuries; and the Museum of Fine Arts and Archeology will be the last to join the party later in the year.

And while you’re there…

Book a room at the relatively new Hotel Soho Málaga, a chic little boutique hotel in the city’s street art festoon Soho neighbourhood, known as the Barrio de las Artes.

train culture mountains sights see church history
A Santiago street (photo: Imogen Eveson).

Italy

The concept of a world exposition in the era of the internet might seem strange, but what began at The Crystal Palace in London in 1851 as The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, has managed to morph and change with the times in order to remain relevant.

 

With the noble theme of Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, it’s Milan’s turn to host 145 countries, 13 NGOs, three top-shelf international organisations (the United Nations, European Union and Caribbean Community), five corporations, as well as the 20 million visitors who are expected to flock to the 1.1 million square-metres of exhibition space from 1 May to 31 October 2015.

 

According to the official website, the exposition will be a platform for the “exchange of ideas and shared solutions on the theme of food, stimulating each country’s creativity and promoting innovation for a sustainable future".

 

Sounds like a brilliant reason for a world exposition to us.

And while you’re there…

Take a side trip to Florence where the food scene has been revamped with a new first floor on the 140-year-old caste iron and glass Mercato Centrale Firenze that now houses food stands, a cooking school, café and wine tastings.

A highlight of Viking’s eight-day Italian Sojourn itinerary is sailing along Venice’s Grand Canal. Photography: Imogen Eveson.

Austria

According to the travel search engine Kayak, Vienna is one of the top five European cities Australians are looking to visit during the northern hemisphere summer.

 

Given the fact that it is the 150th anniversary of the Ringstrasse, a triumph of architecture and urban planning that is the heart and soul of the city, with a long list of events taking place throughout the year in commemoration, it’s really no surprise.

And while you’re there…

Book a room at the ultra-funky new Magdas Hotel, with its 78 rooms filled with upcycled furniture and pops of colour everywhere.

 

The building itself has even been upcycled from a former retirement home.

 

There’s a bar and salon downstairs, a library and lots of artworks on the walls created in collaboration with students of its neighbour, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

Plansee Lake in Reutte, Tirol, Austria.
Plansee Lake in Reutte, Tirol, Austria.

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Czech Republic

The Czech Republic city of Pilsen (or Pizen to be precise) might have you reaching for an atlas to find out where the heck it actually is, but we can safely report that it is the fourth largest city in the country, and an important administrative, industrial, cultural and commercial centre in the Western Bohemia region.

 

It is also picture-postcard gorgeous.

 

During the year the city will host an extensive series of events – film festivals, theatre productions, exhibitions, music, lectures and events, including the 7th Summer Olympic Games for Children and Youth, when 3000 athletes aged 10 to 17 will arrive in the city.

And while you’re there…

Head to Prague if you are around on 17 November for the brilliantly named Day of the Struggle for Liberty and Democracy holiday.

Switzerland

Zermatt is in the spotlight this year as it’s the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, so there’s a lot of going on there this year including the reopening of the Hörnlihütte, the mountain hut built in 1880 by the Swiss Alpine Club and located at the Matterhorn base camp, which has undergone extensive renovations.

The glacier chairlift of Mt. Titlis, the Ice Flyer, is the world’s first revolving chairlift.

Germany

Learning from the past is a cathartic process, one that is at the heart of the Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, a new museum and learning centre built on the site of the former Nazi headquarters.

 

The white cube building will address the city’s National Socialist past and its devastating ramifications.

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What the European heatwave means for your summer travel plans

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK. 

    Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

    And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

    Why is it so hot in Europe?

    Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

    France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

    In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

    The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

    Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

    How travel is impacted

    A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius
    A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

    During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

    If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

    Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

    people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris
    People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

    With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

    Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

    How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

    Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

    Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

    Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.