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Stein am Rhein, Switzerland
A perfectly preserved medieval town on the Rhine with painted half-timbered facades. Don't miss Kloster St. Georgen and stroll the Rathausplatz. A great first Swiss stop after the long drive from Lublin.
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Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland
Home to the Rheinfall, the largest waterfall in Europe — a thundering spectacle best seen from the boat tour to the central rock. Combine with nearby Schaffhausen's old town and Munot fortress. Just a short drive from Stein am Rhein.
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Colmar, France
La Petite Venise — Colmar's charming canal quarter with colourful Alsatian half-timbered houses reflected in the water. Try tarte flambée and local Riesling in one of the riverside restaurants. A slight detour into Alsace well worth the drive.
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Grindelwald, Switzerland
The gateway to the Bernese Oberland with jaw-dropping views of the Eiger north face. Take the Eiger Express gondola up to Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe — for unforgettable glacier scenery. The village itself has excellent hiking trails and Alpine restaurants.
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Zermatt, Switzerland
The iconic car-free Alpine village beneath the Matterhorn, best admired from Gornergrat or the Schwarzsee plateau. Ride the cogwheel train to Gornergrat at sunrise for the classic Matterhorn panorama. The Bahnhofstrasse has cosy mountain restaurants serving great raclette and fondue.
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Locarno, Switzerland
A sun-drenched Swiss-Italian town on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore with a Mediterranean feel. Visit the pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso perched on the cliff above town and wander the arcaded Piazza Grande. It serves as the perfect base for the side trip to Foroglio.
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Foroglio, Switzerland
A tiny, remote Ticinese hamlet in the Val Bavona famous for its dramatic 110-metre waterfall cascading right next to stone houses. The valley is completely unspoiled — no electricity pylons, just granite boulders and chestnut forests. Drive the narrow valley road from Locarno and allow a half-day for the hike.
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Riva del Garda, Italy
Your pre-booked lakeside stay from August 15–18 on the northern tip of Lake Garda, framed by dramatic cliffs. Explore the medieval Rocca fortress, take a ferry to Limone sul Garda and enjoy fresh lake fish at the harbourfront restaurants. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are world-class here due to the thermal winds.
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Venice, Italy
The incomparable floating city — explore St Mark's Basilica, the Rialto market and lose yourself in the quiet sestieri away from the crowds. Take a vaporetto to Burano for colourful houses and lace, or Torcello for Byzantine mosaics. Park on the mainland at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto and explore on foot and by boat.
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Škocjan, Slovenia
The UNESCO-listed Škocjan Caves are among the world's most impressive karst systems, with a vast underground canyon and a 140-metre-deep gorge carved by the Reka river. Guided tours run several times daily and last about 90 minutes — book ahead in August as it fills up. Combine with a stop in the nearby Karst wine region for a glass of Teran red wine.