Where to Spend Your Sabbatical in Europe

Almost within touching distance of Corfu, the Albanian Riviera stretches from the remote Karaburun Peninsula in the north to the scattered ruins of Butrint National Park in the south. In between are balmy beaches, dappled mountains and azure Mediterranean waters. Although some resort towns have developed here in recent years, there are still secluded spots to discover, and Albania remains one of the best places to travel on a budget in Europe. Don’t miss the Blue Eye – a spring of unknown depth – or the Old Town of Gjirokastër, a Unesco-listed site, set in a valley in the Gjere Mountains.

The capital Tallinn is the ideal base from which to explore swathes of coastal wilderness: windswept coves, scattered islands, fishing villages and conifer-strewn national parks. The medieval Old Town of Tallinn itself – set on a hillock above its port – beckons the wandering traveller to its winding cobbled lanes edged with gothic spires. This Baltic region is perfect for an adventurous sabbatical, inviting hikers to the raised wooden walkways of Lahemaa National Park, characterised by mist-covered bogs, glacial boulders and pine forest. For those seeking solace, the spa resorts in Pärnu and Saaremaa island await.

The capital of Sicily is a mosaic of 12th-century churches, baroque piazzas and cluttered neighbourhood markets, filled with arancini, panelle and almonds. From a base in Palermo, branch out to the volcanic Aeolian Islands, or stay on the mainland to climb the largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. Don’t miss the ceramic-tiled town Caltagirone – climb the monumental 142 steps to its Santa Maria del Monte church – or the windmill-lined salt flats of the Stagnone lagoon, popular with kitesurfers. With average January temperatures around 15C, Sicily is one of the best places to travel in Europe in winter.

Hidden in the southeastern corner of a drowned river valley, ringed by dramatic peaks, labyrinthine Kotor is as atmospheric as its surroundings. Settle down for a coffee in a cafe-strewn square, and sample krempita, a local custard-filled puff pastry. Or climb the Ladder of Kotor into the hinterlands of Mount Lovćen and overlook the city from the Castle of San Giovanni. Another path trails the bay, unveiling seafood restaurants, pebble beaches and the island church Our Lady of the Rocks. Montenegro is one of the best places to travel in Europe thanks to its affordability.

Portugal’s second city is the gateway to the Costa Verde, the green belt of coastline found between the Douro River and the northern border with Galicia. Between rocky headlands, you’ll find sandy beaches like Praia da Apúlia and traditional fishing towns like Esposende and Vila do Conde. As for Porto itself, wander the narrow streets lined with azulejo-tiled churches in the ancient Ribeira district and the grand plazas of Trindade before drifting to the beaches of Foz. The best time to come is late spring or early autumn to avoid those peak summer crowds.

The smallest alpine mountain range in the world, the High Tatras soar high over the border between Slovakia and Poland, with 29 peaks surpassing 2,500m (8,200ft). This snow-capped national park is best traversed on ski pistes between December and March and on the 600km (1,969mi) of marked hiking trails between June and October. Long-distance trekkers will love the challenging Tatranská Magistrála trail, which winds through the region; for those less experienced, take the much easier Štrbské Pleso Lake route. The Tatra Electric Railway connects the local villages, and week-long passes cost only 14 Euros. If you’re hoping to travel Europe by train, a rail pass can be the cheapest way to travel.