Whether you’re a student taking a break from your studies or a professional in search of a meaningful reprieve from the banality and drudgery of office life, a gap year is a brilliant way to escape the boredom of everyday existence, explore new regions, and learn about different cultures. Trekking through a continent, learning to speak a new language, or spending the year as a volunteer in a third-world country are just a few of the activities you can engage in during your yearlong expedition. Not only does a gap year provide adventure-seekers with the opportunity to investigate new lands, it also allows them to experience what life is like for their neighbours. While many choose to spend their gap years in foreign regions, you can also opt to spend it closer to home.
Although there are numerous destinations where you can spend your gap year, Europe is an ideal location for those who want to visit bustling cities and see the countryside; experience customs unique to specific nations within a continent; and enjoy the sights, entertainment, and nightlife in a variety of regions. Europe is also perfect for first-time travellers as it is easy to wander through the continent and move from country to country with ease, which is the best way for novice trekkers to learn the ropes of extensive travel. From the cities of Edinburgh, London, Paris, and Berlin to the villages of Moldova, Romania, and Croatia, travelling through Europe makes for a memorable, thought-provoking, and delightful gap year.
Explore Europe’s Premiere Cities
From London to Milan, some of the world’s most industrious cities can be found in Europe. Start your journey by touring cities like London or Paris via bicycle and end your trip island hopping from Pag Island to the Hvar. Don’t forget to take a historic venture through some of the planet’s oldest cities in countries like Greece, Portugal, and Italy. Celebrate New Year’s in Amsterdam with fireworks in the Oosterdok or throw yourself a birthday bash in a London nightclub with a nice bottle of champagne and a personalized cake from M&S. No matter what major European city you visit, you’re sure to find a mix of history, traditional cuisine, and modern shopping and entertainment.
Discover Europe’s Surf and Sand
Europe isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind when most of us think about places to take a beach break, but areas like Biarritz, France and Tarifa, Spain are wonderful coastal areas to visit once the lights of Paris have dimmed, you’re over the museums in England, and you’re finished exploring the ancient ruins of Rome. Some of the world’s most lustrous sands and glistening waters can be found along the coastal shores of Europe, and many don’t realize that dozens of beaches border the coasts of Europe and most of them are undiscovered gems. Not only do the beaches of Europe provide a warm, relaxing getaway from your, well, getaway, but they are the perfect place for you to indulge in the nightlife of some of the party capitals of the world while pampering yourself by the sea.
