8 dream holidays in Europe to help you get away from it all

Inntravel’s inspiring array of holidays are all about finding the time to escape the everyday demands of life so you can enjoy beautiful scenery and discover fascinating places – entirely at your own pace.

Whether you choose to walk, cycle or enjoy a cultural journey by car or train, Inntravel’s experts leave no stone unturned in seeking out the very best places to stay, eat and explore. And because these holidays are for individuals rather than groups, they’re highly flexible – most itineraries can be shaped so that they’re just right for you – and don’t need groups, timetables or guides. In fact, Inntravel’s detailed information pack is the only guide you’ll need! There are even specially devised self-guided walking tours for city stays, to enable you to get under the skin of your destination and see it up close – as the locals do. Read on for some inspirational ideas for your 2020 holiday… and beyond.

Italian Lakes Explorer journey by car

From Maggiore to Garda, via Como and Iseo, discover the sublime scenery of the Italian lakes on a magical tour by car. Each of the famous lakes has its own irresistible allure, be it wide-open vistas, serene shores or enchanting waterfront villages. There are also fascinating places to visit en route, including lakeside Locarno, whose churches, galleries and castle can be discovered on Inntravel’s self-guided town trail. Following their detailed driving instructions, you can travel from hotel to hotel by car, but this 10-night holiday also allows you time for a journey on the spectacular Centovalli Railway, exploring the coast by boat, and for cable car rides up to panoramic viewpoints.

From £1445pp, including 10 nights’ B&B accommodation, six dinners, car hire and detailed cultural information.

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Flavours of Bilbao, San Sebastián and Santander journey by rail

Discover three of Europe’s foremost foodie destinations as you journey by scenic local train along the Bay of Biscay. The holiday begins in the former industrial city of Bilbao, now transformed into a cultural and gastronomic hub and boasting the staggering Guggenheim Museum and a delicious array of pintxos (Basque-style tapas) bars. Next stop is mouthwatering San Sebastián, a seaside city with more Michelin stars than just about anywhere else on the planet; enjoy its many charms before continuing to your final destination, thriving Bordeaux, famous for its excellent museums and illustrious wine heritage.

From £925pp, including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, rail travel between Bilbao, San Sebastián and Bordeaux, detailed cultural information and notes for city walking tours.

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Istria, Kvarner and Zadar journey by car and ferry

Fabulous seascapes, glorious sunsets and bewitching islands await on this self-guided journey, with car hire and most ferry journeys included. Beginning on northern Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula – where the language, food and architecture betray a clear Italian influence – you will then spend time relaxing on some of the Kvarner Gulf’s most enticing islands. Here, you’ll discover picturesque towns to wander through, wildlife to seek out, trails to traverse and beautiful beaches from which to swim. You finish back on the mainland in colourful Zadar, where the tree-lined waterfront, Roman remains and marble streets provide a fitting end to a memorable journey.

From £1235pp, including 10 nights’ B&B accommodation, four dinners, car hire, most ferry crossings and detailed cultural information.

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Austria’s Great Cities journey by rail

Discover the beautiful monuments and colourful histories of Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna on this self-guided journey by rail. These are arguably Austria’s three greatest cities, with much to intrigue and enthral, and Inntravel’s choice of intimate, family-run hotels only adds to their appeal. With a full day in each city (two in the case of Vienna), you’ll gain a feel for their very different characters: Innsbruck, surrounded by mountains, right in the heart of the Alps; Salzburg with its unique musical heritage; then graceful Vienna, whose palaces, coffee houses and wine taverns make for a suitably grand finale.

From £945pp, including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, rail travel between Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna, detailed cultural information and notes for city walking tours.

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The Hilltop Towns of Tuscany walking holiday

Nestling between the great art cities of Florence, Siena and Pisa, the Chianti hills are as famed for their beauty as for their dark red wines. Hilltop villages crown the rolling landscapes and idyllic churches are dotted along the quiet paths. This leisurely walking holiday takes you from Volterra through the Chianti vineyards and San Gimignano to the Sienese hills and magnificent Siena itself. The joy of the holiday is to feel the timelessness of the Tuscan countryside and to discover the landscapes immortalised in the works of some of the world’s greatest artists.

From £865pp, including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, two dinners, route notes and maps, and your luggage transported between hotels.

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Manor Houses of the Minho walking holiday

Nestling beneath Galicia, Spain’s north-westernmost corner, the Minho is home to vinho verde (‘young wine’) and the abundant Lima Valley, and is considered by many Portuguese to be the most beautiful part of their country. Here, some of Portugal’s oldest and prettiest towns nestle alongside vineyards, chestnut orchards and swaggering ears of corn. The area’s traditional mansions are very special places to stay, and this self-guided hotel-to-hotel walking holiday saves the best till last – you finish at the spectacular Count of Calheiros’ estate. Along the way, while your luggage is transported, enjoy gentle riverside walks and explore charming Ponte de Lima, Portugal’s oldest town.

From £795pp, including seven nights’ B&B accommodation, five dinners, three picnics, route notes and maps, and your luggage transported between hotels.

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Châteaux of the Loire cycling holiday; e-bikes available

Famed for its magnificent châteaux and wide, lazily flowing rivers, the Loire region is a delight. With a gentle terrain and plenty of cultural interest, this is perhaps the best corner of France for leisurely days on two wheels. Crowning the beautiful landscapes are some of the region’s most romantic and elegant châteaux: Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Chinon, Villandry and Saumur. With short, easy routes that are largely on the flat, you have plenty of time to visit all of these destinations during your holiday, and there are ample opportunities for wine-tasting, too!

From £885pp, including six nights’ B&B accommodation, three dinners, cycle hire, route notes and maps, and your luggage transported between hotels.

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Catalan Coast and Villages cycling holiday; e-bikes available

The contrasting charms of unspoiled Catalonia are impossible to resist. The coastline reveals hidden coves and sandy beaches where you can relax and cycle well away from the crowds, while inland, the Empordà Plain, south of the River Ter, is a beguiling patchwork of medieval farms, ancient villages, fields of sunflowers and vineyards. Cycling chiefly on quiet back roads, with parts on farm tracks and some short sections on forest tracks through woodland, this journey takes you from the gently rolling plain, rich in biscuit-coloured medieval villages, to the tranquil coves and pine-clad headlands of the Catalan Coast.

From £945pp, including six nights’ B&B accommodation, four dinners, cycle hire, route notes and maps, and your luggage transported between hotels.

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