Let’s face it: there’s more to see in Europe than most can manage on one trip — too many iconic sites to visit, traditional dishes to taste, languages to learn and natural wonders to behold. Thankfully for travellers this means the continent will never get stale, no matter how many times you visit!
We’ve compiled a list of our 8 favourite sites you won’t want to miss if you’re a first-time adventurer — and the chance to save as much as 10% when you book with Sure Travel and Trafalgar before 31 January 2019! Which destinations will you add to your bucket list?
One of the world’s most recognisable man-made wonders, the Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary exhibition by engineer, Gustav Eiffel, for the 1889 World Fair.
The wrought-iron lattice tower was initially despised by locals and architects, however, today it’s celebrated with a glittering light show each night, beckoning millions of tourists up its 81 storeys each year for stunning views of the city.You can join them!
See the City of Light during Trafalgar’s 8-day Paris Explorer itinerary, as it has never been seen before: the hidden courtyards and charming arrondissements, each with their own distinct personality. You'll also witness the opulence of Versailles and sample French flavours fit for royalty. Starting from R20,152 per person, save up to 10% when you book and pay before 31 January 2019.
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Gladiators, executions and animal hunts — the “Flavian Amphitheatre” or Colosseum was built during the reigns of three different emperors and could host as many as 80,000 spectators.
Visit Italy with Sure Travel and save up to 10% when you book and pay before 31 January 2019! The 11-day Wonders of Italy itinerary takes you to the Colosseum and more of ancient Rome’s iconic sites, as well as stops in Florence, Venice and the breathtaking Cinque Terre. Starting from R36,810 per person sharing.
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One building dominates the skyline of Barcelona like no other: Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. The decadent Roman Catholic church has taken more than a century to build (its anticipated completion is only set for 2026, to align with the 100-year anniversary of Gaudi’s death), and was designed in the Art Nouveau and Gothic architectural styles.
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Steeped in history and perched atop a rocky hill overlooking Athen’s sprawling streets, this ancient citadel features the ruins of several monuments and temples.
The Parthenon, for instance, was built for the goddess Athena and showcases some of the finest examples of Classical Greek architecture. And there’s evidence to suggest the site’s been inhabited as early as the fourth millennium BC!
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No, you didn’t drink too much — this cathedral bell tower really is off kilter. The landmark is an ode to poor engineering: the original designers in the 12th century didn’t account for the soft earth on site, so the foundations weren’t strong enough to support its weight.
Nowadays, it’s the stop for tourists’ quirky photoshoots and thankfully, modern engineers have taken steps to stabilise and preserve its wonky lean for future generations.
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A relic of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall may have come down in 1989 but its devastating separation of families has never been forgotten. Built almost overnight in 1961 to stop refugees from fleeing communism in East Germany (in favour of Berlin’s democratic west), modern-day Germany has preserved parts of the wall as part of its “East Side Gallery” in the hopes all who visit will build bridges with their neighbours, not walls.
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You’ll need more than a few hours to peruse the world’s largest and most extensive art museum, the Louvre — jam packed with sculptures, paintings and objets d’art from prehistory to the 21st century.
More than 7 million people visited the museum in 2016 and the number keeps growing. Many come to sneak a peek at its most famous resident, the Mona Lisa — others, to take in its glass pyramid and unending galleries, filled with more than 38,000 works. Originally built as a fortress by Philip II, the Louvre sits on the right bank of the River Seine.
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Europe is full of fairytale castles but none more visited than Schloss Neuschwanstein (quite a mouthful), as it’s called in German.
And while its turrets, frescoes, towers and throne hall inspired Walt Disney’s own magical castle, the exorbitant cliffside fortress comes with a grimmer origin story: Bavaria’s King Ludwig commissioned the structure two years after his defeat in the Austro-Prussian War (stripping him of power) so he could live out his fantasies of sovereignty. Yet he never saw its completion, mysteriously dying just weeks before it was opened to the public.
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Sure Travel has the best trips at the best price, guaranteed. Book and pay by 31 January 2019 and save up to 10% on a 2019 Trafalgar holiday in Europe or Britain.
Experience the Best of Portugal from as little at R30,510 pps. Wander through medieval cities, visit the religious landmarks of Fátima, Batalha and the dramatic Hieronymite Monastery — and enjoy a delicious Pastéis de Belém or two along the way. After all, you've got 10 days.
Or journey through the pretty seaside villages along the Dalmatian coast followed by sightseeing in the European capitals of Vienna, Ljubljana and Zagreb on Trafalgar’s Highlights of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia — 13 nights, starting from just R42,660 pps.
These prices can’t be beat. Contact your nearest Sure Travel Agency to enquire or book, or call +27 (0)861 47 48 49.
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Trafalgar is sweetening the deal with a chance to win a R500 voucher for Yuppiechef!
Here's how to enter:
1. Read our blog: "Star appeal: your guide to 8 of Europe's most iconic sites".
2. Tell us which iconic European site is NOT on our list but top of your bucket list, and why!
3. If you're entering on Facebook, put your answer in the comment section of the competition post and share the competition post on your own Facebook page – and tag a friend for an extra entry. If you're entering on Instagram, put your answer in the comment section of the competition post.
That's it! Contest ends 31 January 2019 at 23h59. Winner will be announced 1 February 2019 on social media.
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The promoters of this promotion are Trafalgar and Sure Travel.
1. Employees or agencies of the Promoters, affiliated companies or family members, or anyone else connected with the Prize Draw may not enter the Prize Draw.
2. Entrants into the Prize Draw shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions.
3. The closing date for entries into the Prize Draw is 23h59 on 31 January 2019. Entries received outside this time period will not be considered.
4. One winner will be chosen from of entries received in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. The judges’ decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered in to.
5. The promoters accept no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize and not specifically included in the prize.
6. By submitting your entry, you agree to receive Facebook communication from the Promoters and the winner will be contacted via Facebook.
7. If the winner does not respond to the promoters by 2 February 2019, then the winner's prize will be forfeited. If a winner rejects their prize or the entry is invalid or in breach of these Terms and Conditions, the winner's prize will be forfeited and the promoters shall be entitled to select another winner.
8. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
9. The Promoters retain the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available.
10. The winner may be required to take part in promotional activity related to the Prize Draw and the winner shall participate in such activity on the Promoters reasonable request. The winner consents to the use by the Promoters, both before and after the closing date of the Prize Draw for an unlimited time, of the winner's name for publicity purposes, in any medium, on the internet, including any websites hosted by the Promoters and its related companies and in advertising, marketing or promotional material without additional compensation or prior notice and, in entering the Prize Draw, all entrants consent to the same.
11. The Promoters accept no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize.
12. Sure Travel’s standard terms and conditions apply. View full Ts and Cs here.
