Capital | Paris |
Area | 547 030 km² |
Population | 60,2 million people |
Official language | French |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +23°C winter 0°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing beach vacation |
France - the world's most popular tourist destination - can confidently claim to offer it all, from glamorous beaches and storybook castles to panoramic countryside and city chic. It's a country of dramatic juxtapositions - the expansive boulevards of Paris, the timeless greenery of the Loire Valley, the wide slopes of the Alps, the lavender fields of Provence, the gourmet restaurants of Lyon, the rugged charm of Corsica - and one which, when taken as a whole, presents a near-perfect visitor package.
Paris itself is one of the globe's truly great cities: a multi-layered realm of high fashion, historical riches and haute cuisine. But seen in a wider context, it's just one of many world-class tourist destinations that France has to offer. "How could one describe a country which has 365 kinds of cheese?" once asked former French president Charles De Gaulle. It's a good question.
Capital | Praga |
Area | 78 866 km² |
Populatio | about 10,2 million people |
Official language | Czech |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +25°C winter +2°C |
Recommended type of holiday | sightseeing therapeutic recreation |
A historic jewel at the heart of Europe, the Czech Republic packs a sizeable punch for a small country; from its fairytale castles and medieval towns, to elegant spa resorts and scenic national parks. This is also the birthplace of some of the world's finest beer. The Czech Republic's capital is the culture-filled Prague, whose imposing castle is the centre piece. Easy daytrips from Prague include the spa resort of Karlovy Vary, Karlštejn and Konopiště castles, and the historic towns of Mělník and Kutná Hora. The Czech Republic is peppered with fascinating UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the picture-postcard town of Český Krumlov, and the Renaissance architecture of Telc. For natural beauty, try Šumava National Park, the weird and wonderful rock pinnacles of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, and the spectacular caves and underground rivers of the Moravian Karst. The rich agricultural area of Moravia in the eastern half of the country offers rolling ranges of wooded hills and vineyards.
Capital | Zagreb |
Area | 56 542 km² |
Populatio | 4 433 000 people |
Official language | Croatian |
Currency | kuna |
Climate | summer +22°C winter +29°C |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation sightseeing |
Capital | Nicosia |
Area | 9 250 km² |
Populatio | 771 657 people |
Official language | Greek and Turkish |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer +35°C winter +16°C |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation |
Capitals | Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
Area | 7273 km² |
Population | Tenerife - 906,854 Gran Canaria - 838,397 Lanzarote - 141,938 Fuerteventura - 103,167 Palma - 86,996 Homer - 22,769 El Hierro - 10,892 |
Official language | spanish |
Currency | euro |
Climate | summer from +20°C to +40°C winter from +10°C to +25°C |
Recommended type of holiday | beach vacation |