The Most Charming European Towns to Visit With Culture Trip
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Who doesn’t love a pretty little European town to meander through? From medieval gems right out of a fairytale to quaint little coastal spots, these are the most charming towns in Europe that you can visit with Culture Trip.
Loved by over 40s
Aveiro – Complete Portugal by Train
A little south of Porto, on a seaside lagoon of the same name, is the utterly adorable canal city of Aveiro which, understandably, has earned a reputation as Portugal’s answer to Venice. This place is so easy on the eye, from the multicoloured art nouveau buildings that line the canals to the vibrantly decorated moliceiro boats floating down them. As well as its effortless beauty, Aveiro is know for its sweetest delicacy, the ovos moles. It’s a classic Portuguese concoction made with sugar and eggs, wrapped in a crusty wafer and sold in wooden barrels all over the city. Our eight day Rail Trip in Portugal isn’t short of beautiful towns and cities, from Porto and Lisbon to Regua in the Douro Valley and the coastal town of Azenhas do Mar. We’ll even visit the fairytale town of Sintra, near Lisbon and famed for its striking gothic palace. Still, we think our time in Aveiro will have you charmed the most.
From US$1522
Next available from 13th Apr 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Porto, Portugal
ENDS AT
Lisbon, Portugal
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Krems – Central Europe by Train
Buy a random train ticket anywhere in Central Europe and it won’t take long for your carriage to pull into a gorgeous medieval town. That’s not far off the idea behind our Central Europe by Train trip, albeit our version is a lot more organised. Our itinerary focuses on five of the region’s most scenic capital cities – Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest – but the hidden discovery of this trip is without a doubt Krems. It’s official name is Krems an der Donau, which translates to Krems on the Danube, which also goes some way to explain why this place is so beautiful. It’s set right in the heart of the spectacular Wachau Valley, an Austrian region that traces the river with rolling hills, vineyards, valleys and medieval fortresses. We’ll take a detour from Vienna to visit Krems, where we’ll embark on a magical bike ride along the banks of the Danube, followed by a thoroughly deserved (optional) wine tasting and lunch amid truly gorgeous surrounds.
From US$2473
Next available from 13th Apr 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Berlin, Germany
ENDS AT
Budapest, Hungary
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Flash Sale
Alberobello – Seductive Southern Italy
In all honesty, we could make a pretty impressive list of pretty little towns from just our 10-day exploration of Italy’s southern coasts. You’ll discover Amalfi and Positano on the west coast, before heading inland to the surreal hilltop cave town of Matera – made famous by James Bond – and the gorgeous beach resort of Polignano a Mare. If we had to pick just one place in southern Italy to really make you fall in love, however, it surely has to be the quirky town of Alberobello. It’s only home to around 10,000 people, but this place is famous for its adorable trulli huts, a Unesco-listed style of building unique to this part of the world. There’s something almost cartoonishly cute about the conical stone roofs and whitewashed walls, almost as if they should home smurfs or oompa loompas. You’ll get a guided tour of the town on day five of our Seductive Southern Italy trip.
From US$1766
Next available from 14th Oct 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Naples, Italy
ENDS AT
Lecce, Italy
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Easy
STYLE
Discovery
Inverness – Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands by Train
Most people hear the word Ness and think of either the loch, or the mythical beast within it, but trace the river Ness all the way to Scotland’s northeastern coast and you’ll discover the glorious little city of Inverness. The architecture is gorgeous, the summertime greenery luscious and, on a clear sunny day, views across the river are absolutely sumptuous. It’s also the capital of the Highlands, making it the perfect spot to explore the extraordinary natural beauty of rugged rural Scotland. On our week-long Rail Trip to Edinburgh and the Highlands you’ll get a guided tour of the city and its brilliant Museum and Art Gallery, before having some free time to visit the castle and stroll along the Ness, later retiring at our beautiful riverfront hotel.
From US$2109
Next available from 25th Sep 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
London, England
ENDS AT
Edinburgh, Scotland
DURATION
7
GROUP SIZE
15
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Granada – City Hopping in Spain by Train
Spain, and especially the southern region of Andalusia, is not short of picturesque towns ideal for a gentle stroll. The architecture in this part of Spain is heavily influence by the Islamic styles of the region’s Moorish history, which is best witnessed in two small cities – Cordoba and Granada. Our eight-day Rail Trip through the heart of Spain starts in Madrid and ends in Malaga, stopping off in Seville and Cordoba on the way, but despite the immense beauty of each stop on this journey, you’ll struggle to outdo Granada. The ace in its architectural hole is the iconic Alhambra Palace, one of Spain’s most popular attractions, which keeps a watchful eye over Granada’s pretty whitewashed houses. The complex itself is a spectacular Unesco-listed Islamic palace, with a few Spanish Renaissance touches, made even more beautiful by its backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You’ll get a tour of the palace and of Generalife Gardens on day six of our Spanish extravaganza.
From US$2399
Next available from 16th Mar 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Madrid, Spain
ENDS AT
Malaga, Andalucia
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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