Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Scotland has been home to over 2,000 castles over the centuries, although just several hundred have stood the test of time. The magnificent castles that stand today offer visitors an opportunity to step back in time and explore the beauty and extravagance of these ancient royal homes and fortresses. With all of these amazing castles to see, it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit on a trip to Scotland. To make the decision a little easier, here's a list of the top 10 castles in Scotland, all of which offer incredible sights and experiences to be had.
Ponte Vecchio, Florence
When imagining the perfect vacation in Europe, it's hard for your mind not to wander to Italy. It's no surprise though, as Italy offers countless cities to visit, each featuring their own unique history, culture, and sights to see. What follows is a 7-day itinerary of the "Big Three” Italian cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the U.K. with their 12th century castle and medieval architecture found throughout Old Town. You can easily spend a weekend exploring the winding streets with their hidden alleyways and climbing up to mountain top viewpoints. Use this weekend tour as your guide to get the most out of everything Edinburgh has to offer.
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Located off the north coast of mainland Scotland, the Orkney Islands offer some of the best preserved ancient sites in all of the U.K. From 5,000-year-old villages to World War Two era sunken ships poking out of the lochs, Orkney is like stepping back in time. Orkney is a place of constant discovery, with archaeologists are flocking here every summer to discover some new Neolithic period artifacts.
The Storr Range
If you've ever wanted to feel like you've ventured into an enchanted universe, look no further than the Isle of Skye. Located on the west coast of Scotland, this beautiful island is home to incredible natural scenery and prehistoric areas just waiting to be explored!
Bealach Na Ba-Applecross
From stunning coastlines to winding mountain roads, Scotland's North Coast 500 offers some of the most incredible views of the country. The Scottish answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 makes a full loop starting and ending with Inverness and working its way along the west, north, and northeast coasts. Based on my own road trip along the North Coast 500, I've put together a four-day itinerary that includes some of the best sights and hidden gems along the route.
You’ve decided to take a holiday in France, in the region of Burgundy to be exact. It is a land known for its rich history, quaint villages, castles, churches, lakes and forests, and rolling hillsides swathed in vineyards. Burgundy is probably most famous for its wines of the same name, though the countryside of east-central France has that and more to occupy many fulfilling adventures.
Carcassone, France
Planning a trip to France, but not sure how much it will cost? Check out our average daily costs for France. All of our daily averages come from other travelers, and we've also called out a few specific examples, too!
The crystal waters at Agios Ioannes
Almost immediately I grabbed my beach towel and walked down to the beach. The unfortunate events of the day could not keep me from it any longer.
The view from Mount Snowdon
It was mostly on a whim that I decided to climb the three highest peaks in the U.K. while visiting there last summer. Mount Snowdon (3,560 ft.), Scafell Pike (3,209 ft.), and Ben Nevis (4,409 ft.) are scattered throughout Wales, England, and Scotland. Completing the U.K. 3 Peaks Challenge ended up being one of the most incredible travel experiences I’ve had to date. Maybe it’s because I went into it with little to no training and still succeeded (which means you can too), or maybe it’s because I got to feast my eyes upon truly incredible and one of a kind views.
