6 Incredible Bucket List Experiences to Have in Europe

Travelling across Europe is the experience of a lifetime. I adore Europe, and no matter how many other places I visit, my heart always remains with Europe.

The architecture, the incredible variety of cultures spread across the continent, the art (my goodness the art), the food, the landscapes…it’s mind-blowing, and you’d need more than one lifetime to explore Europe properly.

Europe is so much more than just historic cities and landmark buildings though: it’s an experience, and one you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.

With that in mind, I’ve created a European travel bucket list, with some of the most once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can imagine. From chartering private jets above the Alps to waking up in fairy tale castles, you’ll find it all on this list.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it. Here are 6 incredible bucket list experiences you can have in Europe.

Table of Contents

1. Charter a private plane over the Alps

Private jet travel is a must if you’re hoping to gain access to views like none you’ve ever seen before.

Many commercial airlines fly over the Alps, but if you don’t want to fight with the kid in the next row for the window seat that you paid for, you may as well just indulge and take it to the next level.

Private jet charter travel not only ensures that you’re relaxing in luxurious comfort while you take in that view, but it also:

Minimises travel stress
Minimises social anxiety
Allows you to control your own schedule
Makes you feel like an absolute queen!

The Swiss and French Alps and the Italian Dolomites are excellent route choices if you’re flying for the view…and the destinations aren’t too shabby either.

If you’re travelling with a group of friends, this could be an excellent choice for regular travel, as costs will be split, but if it’s just you and a loved one, make that booking for a special occasion, and you’ll really cherish the memories.

2. Stay in a fairy castle hotel

You’d be hard-pressed to find a girl who would turn down a stay in a fairy tale castle – I certainly wouldn’t!

Fortunately, Europe is fairy tale castle central, with countries like Ireland, Germany, and France having some absolutely breath taking castles.

Staying in a castle isn’t like staying in a hotel: the accommodation is the experience. However, you’re also able to head out into the immediate area to explore, safe in the knowledge that you’re going to sleep like a princess when you’re done.

Treat yourself to a four-poster bed, turrets with winding staircases, grand ballrooms, and the experience of truly waking up in a fairy tale.

3. Take a scenic train journey through the mountains

I mentioned the Alps earlier, and while they’re certainly some of the most famous mountains in Europe, they’re far from alone in their beauty and appeal.

If a private plane isn’t quite within your budget, train travel in Europe really is the next best thing.

Travelling by train in Europe proves that it really is the journey that counts, and this slow and steady kind of trip gives you time to soak it all in.

The Glacier Express (Switzerland), the Bernina Express (also Switzerland), the West Highland Line (Scotland), the Orient Express (Paris to Istanbul), and the Flåm Railway (Norway) are all vastly different trips that offer some of the most incredible views you’ll ever experience.

4. Go to a European festival

One of the best ways to experience European culture is to attend one of Europe’s many festivals.

From Oktoberfest in Germany, which revolves mainly around excellent German cuisine and copious amounts of beer, to Fallas in Valencia (a crazy festival involving lots of papier-mache sculptures being burnt down), and Reeperbahn in Hamburg, which is the largest music festivals in Europe, you really can’t go wrong.

fallas valencia — One of the sculptures at Fallas, Valencia

There’s also the Venice Carnival in Italy, a pageant that has been held since the Middle Ages and showcases the city’s refinement and creativity at its best, not to mention the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and events that revolve around ancient traditions (bringing the cows down from the mountains in Switzerland is an amazing one!): there’s so much on offer that all you have to do is choose!

5. Go wine tasting

Wine tasting in Europe is one of my favourite things to do. Most European countries have at least one stretch of wine country that will blow you away with its lush vines and rolling hills, and I’ve been to many of them!

I’ve visited underground wine cellars in Moldova, volunteered at an Albanian winery, and even tasted wine made from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna. I’ve also visited several wineries in Georgia, which has a wine-making history dating back over 8,000 years!

A real wine tasting is more than just sipping on a nice vintage in a picturesque setting. A good winery will introduce you to the finer details, including the soil, how the grapes are grown, why they have the flavour they have, some of their techniques and processes, and their flavourful complexities.

6. Eat at a Michelin-Star restaurant

Food is one of the main reasons I travel. For me, food is an experience in and of itself, and all it takes is the right chef.

Culinary experiences can help you gain a whole new understanding of the places you visit, and visiting a Michelin-starred restaurant is one of the ultimate bucket-list experiences you can have in Europe.

The food in a Michelin-starred restaurant is like art that you can taste, so it’s important not to get hung up on portion sizes or how dramatically food is served – it’s all part of the show.

Final Thoughts

Each of these experiences is guaranteed to be something you remember for the rest of your life.

From wine tasting in Tuscany to slow train journeys through the Swiss Alps, Europe has something for every kind of traveller (and every kind of budget!).

I hope that this article has given you some inspiration, and as always, please leave any questions in the comments section below.

Until next time!

XOXO

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