Best European Country (2014)

Much underrated Portugal has all the trappings of a pretty European country: cobbled villages beneath the shadows of medieval castles, sun-kissed beaches, a delectable culinary tradition and plenty of history to explore. Whether swimming in the turquoise waters of the Algarve, sipping a glass of port at a Porto cafe or listening to the melancholy lament of a fadista in Lisbon, Portugal’s understated beauty becomes obvious.
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Italy’s natural, cultural and culinary beauty has been inspiring travelers and artists for centuries. Beyond the obvious beauty - flower-adorned Tuscan villas, magnificent cathedrals and timeless works of art - there’s a more subtle beauty to be found in the very fabric of Italian society: a dedication to slowing down, sitting back and enjoying life to the fullest.
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Beauty is everywhere you look in Austria, from the artistic masterpieces and gilded palaces of Vienna to the snowy mountains, meandering valleys and alpine lakes scattered throughout the countryside. Nature lovers find Austria’s beauty at its best in the Eastern Alps that dominate the landscape, creating a playground for outdoor recreation, while music lovers will find equal beauty in the cultural landscape that nourished the likes of Mozart and Strauss.
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Germany’s prettiness is one of Europe’s most diverse. The oft-photographed castles of Bavaria look straight out of a fairytale, while dense forests and lush river valleys dotted with half-timbered towns complete the storybook landscape. Germany’s big cultural powerhouses - Berlin, Munich and Hamburg to name only a few - offer a heady mix of beautiful historical sites and modern marvels from some of architecture’s greats, all complemented by regional culinary delights.
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The rolling hills of the Cotswold, the haunting moors of York, dozens of literary spots and historic sites ... and that’s just in England. Add to that the enigmatic ruins of Wales, rolling green hills of the Scottish Highlands and the jaw-dropping Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom’s pretty appeal is easy to see.  
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Visiting Spain is like visiting multiple countries in one. Catalonian culture and the whimsical works of Antoni Gaudí lend beauty to Barcelona, while Basque Country in the north serves as a gateway to the beautiful Picos de Europa. A lovely contrast to the mountainous regions of Northern Spain are the sunny plains and cultural blends of Andalucía in the South. Those who find beauty on a beach will find no shortage in Spain, in destinations like Mallorca and the Canary Islands.
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The Emerald Isle, named so for its undulating green countryside, has a big reputation as a desirable destination, which it lives up to with a relaxed, friendly flourish. Some visitors find beauty in that perfect pint of Guinness poured at an unassuming cottage pub, others in the waves crashing into cliffs along the Atlantic coastline, and yet others in the crumbling castles dotting the landscape.
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There isn’t much to say about France’s seductive beauty that hasn’t already been said. Towering Notre Dame and stained-glass-filled La Sainte-Chapelle, grand Versailles and the colorful canals of Strasbourg are enough to prove the architectural beauty of France, while the gastronomic scene is hard to match. Then there’s the landscape ... snow-capped alpine peaks, old oak forests, towering sand dunes and, of course, the sparkling waters of the French Riviera.
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Secret sea caves, gushing geysers, ice fields, waterfalls, black sand beaches, cloudy blue hot springs and the Northern Lights ... these are just a few of Iceland’s plethora natural wonders that make it one of Europe’s (if not the world’s) prettiest countries. The tiny population are famed for their friendly, warm hospitality and pride in their Scandinavian heritage.
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Switzerland, the capital of alpine tourism, is like one giant collection of postcards. Beyond the obvious stars of the show - the snowy Matterhorn towering over the charming, car-free town of Zermatt or the sparkling waters of Lake Geneva - Switzerland offers world-class hiking in the Engadine and Ticino, castles dating back to the Middle Ages, countless alpine lakes and delightfully quaint towns, like Lucarno and Lugano.
Photo courtesy of swiss-image.ch/Stephan Schacher