Kent has been named the number one spot for a family holiday in 2015, in Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2015. Kent was singled out thanks to the host of opportunities it offers curious young minds, including the chance to indulge in retro-fun on sandy Broadstairs Beach, mind-blowing views of the English Channel as you walk along the White Cliffs of Dover, plus nostalgic thrills with this month’s reopening of Margate’s Dreamland amusement park, which boasts a revamped wooden rollercoaster (the UK’s oldest) and a 1920s helter-skelter.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2015 highlights the most compelling destinations on the continent for this summer, from oh-so-cool cities to ravishing beaches and places tailor-made for family fun as selected by Lonely Planet’s team of European experts.
For the last 40 years, travel experts at Lonely Planet have trodden every cobbled street and admired every view on the continent. They have compared bucket lists to bring you their insider tips on the must-see places for this summer.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2015 highlights the best of Europe across these three top 10 lists:
· The 10 Best Places in Europe
· Europe’s 10 Best Beaches
· The 10 Best Places in Europe for Family Holidays
Icelandic city, Akureyri, tops the list as the best place in Europe thanks to its easy-going feel combined with an urban buzz, while also providing a great base for exploring north Iceland’s green pastures, fishing villages and waterfalls, not to mention glimpsing awe-inspiring glaciers, volcanoes and lava fields.
Jaz Beach on Montenegro’s gorgeous Adriatic coast, takes the title of Europe’s Best Beach thanks to its combination of a little adventure, a spot of culture and its award-winning Sea Dance Festival.
Other destinations closer to home, which have made the prestigious list, are Bantham Beach, England and Sandwood Bay, Scotland, both named among the top beaches. Skomer and Marloes Sands in Wales join Kent as a top spot for a family getaway.
Lonely Planet Editorial Director, Tom Hall, said: “The destinations have been chosen by our team of European experts. Some may be surprising, some are definitely under the radar, but all of them are great places to visit right now. Whatever the travel experience you are looking for this summer, Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe will have something for you.”
To help travellers experience the very best of these destinations, Lonely Planet is giving away a free PDF chapter for the top place in each category. Each chapter is packed full of tips on where to eat, drink, sleep and explore. They are available at www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-europe
Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2015
Europe’s 10 Best Places:
1. Akureyri, Iceland
2. Leipzig, Germany
3. The Azores, Portugal
4. Málaga, Spain
5. Belgrade, Serbia
6. Piedmont, Italy
7. Baku, Azerbaijan
8. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
9. Tromsø, Norway
10. Porto, Portugal
Europe’s 10 Best Beaches:
1. Jaz Beach, Montenegro
2. Peniche, Portugal
3. Rondinara Beach, Corsica, France
4. Cale Goloritzé, Sardinia, Italy
5. Vik Beach, Iceland
6. Bantham Beach, England, UK
7. Sandwood Bay, Scotland, UK
8. Cala Macarella, Menorca, Spain
9. Voutoumi, Antipaxi, Greece
10. Curonian Spit, Lithuania
Europe’s 10 Best Places for Family Holidays:
1. Kent, England, UK
2. County Kerry, Ireland
3. Black Forest, Germany
4. Budapest, Hungary
5. Vorarlberg, Austria
6. Åland Archipelago, Finland
7. Ibiza, Spain
8. Normandy, France
9. Skomer and Marloes Sands, Wales, UK
10. Bohinj, Slovenia
