Capital | Warsaw |
Area | 312 685 km |
Population | 38 167 000 people |
Officai ianguage | Polish |
Currency | Polish zioty |
Climate | summer` +18°C winter` +4°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing |
One of Europe's most underrated countries, Poland offers a huge amount for travellers of all stripes - from the wild scenery of its mountainous south, with its great skiing and hiking, to the stunning old towns of Cracow, Zamosc and Gdansk and the wilderness of the Bialowieza National Park and the Great Malsurian Lakes in the country's north.
Capital | Valletta |
Area | 316 km² |
Population | 416 000 people |
Official language | Maltese, English |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +26°C winter +11°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing beach vacation |
Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, the Maltese archipelago, which includes Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Filfla, exudes character at every turn, from its vibrant blue waters and secluded bays, to medieval walled citadels and splendid baroque churches. Every year, visitors flock to Malta's striking coastline to sample its mouth-watering seafood and immerse themselves in fascinating history, traditional villages and colourful fiestas.
From retracing the footsteps of St Paul to discovering where the Knights of St John defended Christendom, this open-air museum will reveal new surprises to you at every turn.
Capital | Athens |
Area | 131 957 km² |
Population | 11 million people |
Official language | Greek |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +35°C winter +10°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing beach vacation |
A flavourful melting pot of sparkling night spots, fresh seafood, sizzling Mediterranean passion and mythical legend, Greece is a fascinating and enchanting destination - whether lounging on a sandy stretch, or exploring ancient relics.
Greece's urban hubs are home to some of the world's most glorious and prized ancient and medieval architecture - such as Athens' white marble Parthenon and Thessaloniki’s proud Byzantine churches - and the setting of some of humankind's oldest tales. On the coast, find bustling, umbrella-peppered beaches and secluded sandy coves, washed by turquoise waters and regularly doused in sunshine.
Off shore, Greece's 1400 islands, such as party-hard Mykonos and picturesque Santorini, offer a rainbow of paradisiacal settings for an idyllic island-hopping adventure. Find true Mediterranean peace on Kefalonia and Amorgos, ideal hiking terrain on the peaks and troughs of Crete, and prime scuba diving and sea kayaking conditions around pretty much every coastal corner.
Capital | Rome |
Area | 301 230 km² |
Population | 59 million people |
Official language | Italian |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +32°C winter +12°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing beach vacation |
Capital | Berlin |
Area | 357 022 km² |
Population | 81 802 000 people |
Official language | German |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +25°C winter 0°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing |
Occupying a prime position in the heart of Europe - both literally and figuratively - today's Germany is an endlessly engaging destination: a land of high culture, frothy beer, half-timbered villages and dynamic cityscapes. Anyone expecting a homogenous country conforming to rigid Teutonic stereotypes is in for a surprise.
Germany has shaken off the shackles of its inglorious past to stand as a country of remarkable diversity, as notable for its avant-garde architecture as for its horizon-wide countryside vistas. Tourists will encounter a heady mix of untamed nature, fine arts and youthful creativity. The capital, Berlin, has a reputation (forged by the legendary 'Roaring Twenties') as a hip and hedonistic community where almost anything goes. In contrast, the quiet academic surroundings of historic university cities like Heidelberg and Freiburg convey a peacefulness quite at odds with the atmosphere of the capital.