STORIES

Travel in 2026 isn’t about ticking off countries – it’s about following curiosity. It’s about finding the experiences that shift your perspective, the places that slow you down, and the hotels that feel less like accommodation and more like the key to understanding a destination. Ready to explore Europe differently in 2026?

Here are some of the most inspiring ways to experience Europe in 2026 – and the historic hotels that unlock them…

For the culture seeker: cities with soul

Copenhagen, Denmark – Design, bicycles and effortless cool

Stay: Ascot Hotel

Copenhagen remains one of Europe’s most forward-thinking capitals, where everyday life unfolds in bike lanes, independent cafés and beautifully curated museums. Wander the Danish Design Museum, eat your way through the city’s new-generation bakeries, or explore creative neighbourhoods like Vesterbro and Nørrebro. The Ascot Hotel, a historic former bathhouse, places you minutes from Tivoli Gardens, the canal network and the cultural heart of the city.

Ljubljana, Slovenia – Small city, big character

Stay: Antiq Palace

Ljubljana offers the best of a capital without the overwhelm: riverside cafés, baroque facades, and a creative energy that spills out of galleries and bookstores. Stay at Antiq Palace, a 16th-century townhouse in the old town, and spend your days cycling along the river, hopping between food markets or joining locals at outdoor concerts in summer.

For the traveller who wants nature and quiet

St. Davids, Wales – Wild coasts and wellbeing

Stay: Penrhiw Priory

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of Europe’s most uplifting walks — wave-lashed cliffs, seal-spotted bays and sunsets that stop you in your tracks. At Penrhiw Priory, mornings begin with birdsong and end with evenings beside the fire. Fill the space in between with coastal hikes, wellness retreats or simply a moment of breathing room.

Albula Valley, Switzerland – Slow Alpine days

Stay: Kurhaus Bergün

In the Albula Valley, nature moves at its own pace. Board a historic mountain railway, stroll through high-meadow trails, or just sit and stare at the unbelievable quiet of the landscape. Kurhaus Bergün, an Art Nouveau jewel set high in the Albula Valley, offers guests a rare blend of alpine wilderness and restored Belle-Époque grandeur.

For history lovers: castles, old towns and timeless stories

Tuscany, Italy – a medieval village brought back to life

Stay: Castello di Gargonza

High above the Tuscan countryside, Castello di Gargonza is a fortified medieval village transformed into one of Italy’s most atmospheric heritage stays. Wander stone lanes, explore surrounding vineyards and hill towns, and savour the quiet rhythm of timeless rural Tuscany.

Norfolk, England – country pubs, old paths and heritage villages

Stay: The Brisley Bell

The Brisley Bell brings a distinctly English take on heritage: a beautifully restored coaching inn set on an old crossroads in rural Norfolk. Spend slow days cycling quiet lanes, walking age-old footpaths or exploring nature reserves alive with birdlife. Historic Norwich, traditional villages and the sweeping beaches of the North Norfolk coast are all within easy reach – making this an ideal base for discovering England’s gentler rhythms.

For coastal wanderers: sea views and Mediterranean rhythm

Kotor, Montenegro – Fjords, fortresses and dramatic bays

Stay: Hotel Cattaro

Kotor Bay is one of Europe’s most jaw-dropping landscapes: mountains plunging into glassy water, tiny stone churches, fortresses winding into the cliffs. From Hotel Cattaro, right on the waterfront, you can wander the Venetian-built old town, kayak the bay or hike up to the castle for sunsets that feel otherworldly.

Opatija, Croatia – Austro-Hungarian elegance on the Adriatic

Stay: Hotel Milenij

Along Opatija’s storied Lungomare promenade, Hotel Milenij sits amid palm-lined promenades, Belle Époque villas and Adriatic vistas – a reminder that the Riviera’s grandeur dates back more than a century. Step outside to elegant cafés, music-filled squares and gardens that hint at Opatija’s belle-époque heyday. With its refined Adriatic setting and easy access to coastal walks and hidden coves, it’s a perfect base for travellers seeking culture, calm and a touch of old-world glamour.

For food and wine travellers

Evia, Greece – vineyards, terraces and island stories

Stay: Montofoli Wine Estate

Part historic estate, part vineyard and part archaeological site, Montofoli Wine Estate offers an extraordinary Greek escape. Taste wines grown on ancient terraces, explore the hills around Karystos and settle into evenings overlooking the sea. This is the Greece of deep heritage and generous hospitality – far from the crowds.

Ireland – Georgian charm and local flavours

Stay: Ghan House

Overlooking Carlingford Lough, Ghan House offers a wonderfully Irish blend of history, hospitality and exceptional food. This family-run Georgian manor is known for its seasonal menus, local oysters and dishes shaped by the landscape around it. Spend your days exploring medieval Carlingford or walking in the Cooley Mountains, then return to candlelit dinners and the easy warmth that defines this coastal corner of Ireland.

For the curious and the unconventional

Telemark, Norway – voyage through the canal

Stay: MS Henrik Ibsen

This isn’t just a place to stay, it’s an experience in motion. The MS Henrik Ibsen glides through 19th-century locks, forests and mountain valleys on one of Norway’s most unique waterways. The pace is slow, the scenery mesmerising and the feeling utterly timeless.

Vienna, Austria – history through its oldest hotel

Stay: Hotel Stefanie

Vienna is always worth visiting, but seeing it through the doors of Hotel Stefanie, the city’s oldest hotel (1600), offers another layer entirely. Step outside into a city of opera, cafés, museums and baroque grandeur – all within walking distance.

For wellness travellers: rest, renewal and ritual

Warmia-Masuria, Poland – countryside calm and spa warmth

Stay: Pałac Mortęgi Hotel & Spa

In northern Poland, Pałac Mortęgi offers horse riding, lakeside walks and spa treatments inside a beautifully restored manor. It’s the kind of place where mornings begin slowly and days unfold in rhythms shaped by nature.

Dalen, Norway – Nordic stillness and fairytale architecture

Stay: Dalen Hotel

Set beside still lakes and surrounded by dramatic mountains, Dalen Hotel is one of Norway’s great wooden hotels – a place where silence, nature and historic architecture coexist beautifully. Forest trails, boat trips and long quiet afternoons set the rhythm here. With its dragon-carved gables, turrets and serene atmosphere, it’s an ideal retreat for travellers seeking Scandinavian slow living with a touch of grandeur.