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From ‘Dracula’s Castle’ to Game of Thrones town: Explore Europe’s hidden gems with insider guides
Instead of the usual travel hotspots, consider off-the-beaten path locations, with Trafalgar’s expertly planned tours led by locals who offer an authentic lived-in experience in every destination
With almost 80 years of experience planning unique European getaways, Trafalgar takes travellers to underrated destinations beyond the usual tourist spots.
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Not only will you escape the hordes of tourists in more frequented cities, you will also get an insider’s take with local experts guiding you throughout your journey. Be fully immersed in the destination as you enjoy a meal with local hosts in their home, and leave all the planning to the experts.
Established in 1947, Trafalgar
Whether it is wandering through charming towns or soaking in sweeping countryside views, Trafalgar’s tours are designed for style, ease and plenty of fun – often leading you to hidden gems well beyond the usual tourist trail.
Discover the French countryside
While you can join the multitudes of tourists taking wefies at the Eiffel Tower, there is much more to France than Paris alone.
Trafalgar’s Villages of France tour
In Orleans, follow the story of how Joan of Arc played a major role in the city’s siege that shaped French history. Over in Bourges, join a guided walking tour and visit two of its most impressive landmarks: the Unesco-listed Cathedral of St Etienne and the 15th-century Palais Jacques Coeur.
The Unesco-listed Cathedral of St Etienne has one of the tallest naves in France at 41m.
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Trafalgar’s Be My Guest experience introduces you to local hosts and offers the opportunity to dine with them at home. In this tour, you will have lunch at Chateau de Vieux Chambord, the 14th century family estate of Marie and Stéphane Devaulx de Chambord.
Over in Strasbourg, a local specialist will take you through the city’s historic centre as you discover its blend of French and German heritage. Be charmed by the romantic Petite France district with its timber-framed houses and cobbled canals as you stroll through the quiet lanes.
Strasbourg’s pretty timber-framed houses are picture-perfect and reflect French-German influences.
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The tour will also take you to Meaux, a riverside town famed for its brie and mustard, where you can browse the farmers’ market with seasonal produce, cheese and local specialties
Back in Paris, those who enjoy fragrances can choose an optional tour at the renowned Fragonard Perfumery back in Paris, where you can tour the museum and craft your own signature scent.
Jewels on the Balkan riviera
If multitasking is your thing, you will enjoy the Balkans Coast Explorer tour
Start your tour in the Albanian capital of Tirana, where a local resident will show you the famous Skanderbeg Square and take you on a walking tour through the city. Go five floors underground to see Bunk’Art, a former communist bunker turned museum. At 3,000 sq m, it is one of the largest Cold War bunkers in Albania.
South of Tirana is the Unesco World Heritage Site of Berat, famed for its Ottoman-era houses stacked into the hillside. Sample Turkish delights, rose juice and rakija – a strong fruit brandy – in a local guide’s 250-year-old home as she shares the stories and customs of her family.
Berat is known as the “City of a Thousand Windows” for its striking Ottoman-era houses with rows of large windows that look down the hillside.
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From the Albanian Riviera, head into Budva, a coastal town in Montenegro, known to be one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic. Visit the Old Town, walk along the seafront or take in the local atmosphere.
As you cross the border into Croatia, be awed by the sights of the majestic ramparts that line the town in Unesco-listed Dubrovnik, where the Game of Thrones series was filmed.
The rugged coastline of Dubrovnik, seen from the Adriatic Sea.
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Castles and culture in Transylvania
For history buffs, the Best of Romania, Transylvania and Hungary tour
In Romania’s vibrant capital, Bucharest, visit the colossal Palace of Parliament, one of the world’s largest and heaviest buildings, constructed during the country’s communist era.
Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament is widely considered the world’s second largest administrative building, after the Pentagon in the US.
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Over in the resort town of Sinaia, visit Peles Castle, a neo-Renaissance palace built between 1873 and 1914 for Romania’s first king, Carol I. It is also the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity.
Further on in the Saxon village of Harman, dine with the locals in a traditional Saxon home, where you will enjoy a homemade meal prepared from Transylvanian recipes.
Of course, no visit to Transylvania is complete without a stop at Bran Castle, often called “Dracula’s Castle” in a nod to Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire. With its towering spires and hidden passageways you will find yourself lost in the dramatic history of the fortress.
Bran Castle is famous for its association with author Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, as it fits the description of the titular character’s castle.
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Also in Transylvania is Corvin Castle, a spectacular Gothic fortress known for its towers, turrets and tales of Vlad the Impaler. Built on a hill for defense, Corvin Castle is highly photogenic, with an imposing main gate and the Knight’s Hall, which features a grand interior and vaulted ceilings.
For architecture fans, the city of Timisoara will delight with its colourful streets, Art Nouveau buildings and public squares. Often called ‘Little Vienna’, Timisoara is also known for its key role in the 1989 revolution that shaped modern Romania.
Timisoara’s colourful houses give the streets a storybook-like atmosphere.
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From Romania, head into Hungary for a bowl of goulash in Bugac Puszta, part of the Great Hungarian Plain. Watch a horsemanship display that showcases the riding skills of local herdsmen, then move on to the city of Budapest and take an optional dinner cruise along the famous Danube river.
A taste of history and literature
If you have dreams of your children enrolling in some of the UK’s finest universities, be inspired by the English Adventure tour
Travel north through the English countryside and get a tour of Cambridge’s historic colleges, glide down the River Cam on a traditional punting trip, and round off with the option of a Sunday roast at a local pub.
The majestic spires of Cambridge University are steeped in history and significance.
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The tour also takes you to cities like Manchester and Liverpool where, apart from having world-class football teams, they are also home to various attractions. One of the UK’s newest gardens by the Royal Horticultural Society is found in Manchester while, in Liverpool, you can visit Strawberry Field, once a Salvation Army children’s home and also the inspiration behind John Lennon’s song, Strawberry Fields Forever.
In Nottingham, visit Sherwood Forest, the legendary home of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. See the famous Major Oak, believed to be 1,000 years old, and stroll through the ancient woodland. Literature buffs will appreciate the stop in Stratford-upon-Avon, where you will get to see the house William Shakespeare was born in and set foot on the historic streets of this significant town.
Take a stroll through the legendary Sherwood Forest in Nottingham.
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From land to river
For a different experience altogether, hop on a river cruise to explore iconic European cities. Rather than a huge cruise ship which typically carries thousands of guests, Trafalgar’s river cruises
Trafalgar’s river cruises give you the opportunity to visit different European towns by travelling across the rivers.
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With the comforts of boutique-style ships and guided shore experiences, guests can sail along iconic rivers like the Rhine, Danube, Rhone and Seine, waking up to ever-changing views of vineyards, castles and quaint old towns. Each journey blends leisurely days on the water with land excursions led by expert local guides, whether it is wine tastings in France or music-filled evenings in Vienna.
From unhurried afternoons along the river to shared memories at every destination, each trip lets you tour differently, giving you experiences that you will remember long after the journey is over.
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