Chase the Sun in Central Europe | International Traveller

Discover the underrated summer destinations in Central Europe.

Bavarian villages, old castle towns, glittering cities, and a whole lot of walking are to be expected when exploring the landscapes of Central Europe. Dominated by the Alps, these mountainous regions offer natural beauty so picture-perfect, so fairtytale-esque, that narrowing down our choices to just one place per bullet seemed borderline offensive. Thus, we’ve chosen a diverse set of five places to chase the sun that are sure to maximize your European delight.

Read about all 100 places to chase the sun around the globe here.

59. Summer walking tours all along Central Europe

You’ve conquered the Cinque Terre and tackled Tour du Mont Blanc; so now what? It could be time to take those well-worn hiking boots a little further afield with these summer-friendly walking tours that are mostly in Central Europe.

Walking in the Salzburg Lake District by The Natural Adventure

Why twirl and yodel when you can walk with purpose and see the highlights of Austria’s picturesque Lake District across an eight-day visual odyssey? This easy walking holiday offers alpine lakeside trails, mountain scenery and traditional village settings, with accommodation on a B&B basis.

Austria's Lakes District — Walking along picturesque Austria’s Lakes District offers mountain scenery and traditional village settings.

The Seven Rila Lakes by Traventuria

Not up to a multi-day hike? Bulgaria’s most famous hike across the Rila Mountains can be done on a chairlift, its peak revealing the drama of the region’s seven glacier lakes.

Aerial view of the Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria — Bulgaria’s most famous hike across the Rila Mountains can be done via chairlift for a more dazzling view.

Explore Croatia and Slovenia by Walkabout Gourmet Adventures

Two stunning countries and a variety of landscapes that include Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park and Slovenia’s Julian Alps over 14 days sounds wonderful enough. The luxury accommodation and meals complete the picture.

A mountain peak in the Julien Alps, located in Slovenia — Walk through a sea of clouds atop the Julien Alps in Slovenia.

Iceland Cultural Walking Adventure by Classic Journeys

Black-sand beaches, ice caves and geothermal pools are all covered in this six-day adventure led by descendants of 9th-century Vikings. It’s not all rough-and-tumble; farm-to-table cuisine, luxury digs and additional daily activities such as horseriding are also included.

The northern lights, seen in Iceland — You might spot the iconic Northern Lights while on a walking tour in Iceland.

Bohemian Paradise by On Foot Holidays

After days spent indulging in Prague’s cultural delights, strike out on this six-night trail which takes in a landscape of meadows, pine forests and more than a fair few castles. Kicking off in Turnov, Czech Republic, hikers can expect to punctuate their days with beer-focused pit stops.

Turnov countryside, in the Czech Republic — Take in a landscape of meadows, pine forests and more than a fair few castles when walking through Turnov.

You might also want to consider: The eight-day Life’s an Adventure Portuguese Camino pack-free walk or Macs Adventure’s Best of Skye in Style five-day walk on the charming Scottish island.

By Dilvin Yasa

60. Beer Gardens in Berlin, Germany

Gritty, graffitied and grafted with diverse subcultures, Berlin doesn’t always top the list for a European summer escape. Yet, there is something so wonderful about this time of year. For instance, strawberries with flavour so intense they’re almost a caricature. Pair them with cider from a corner shop and enjoy on the street as you watch Berlin life amble along. Or loll about the poolside parklands in Sommerbad Kreuzberg, just a step off the Prinzenstraße train line, to beat the heat while you soak up this area’s hip vibes.

Graffiti wall in Berlin, Germany — Berlin—gritty, graffitied and grafted with diverse subcultures.

Naturally, there are also plenty of incredible beer gardens. Here are two of the best to try:

Luftgarten Bier & BBQ

Stretch out in the sun of the Tempelhofer Park, home to the now defunct Tempelhof Airport, which during the Second World War found inevitable infamy. Tour the incredible neoclassical airport terminal with its vast, fascist-style wings, before making your way towards Luftgarten Bier & BBQ. Sunshine, beats and bratwurst make this sprawling garden a very solid option for whiling away some summer hours. If you are entering from the airport side, we do recommend a bike, as it’s a long, hot walk to find refreshments.

Cafe am Neuen See

Tiergarten is the green lung of central Berlin. This beautifully verdant park is a popular spot for Birkenstock-ed Berliners who come to play on the lush greens, picnic and participate in events. But do not leave the park without stopping for a pint at one of this city’s most picturesque beer gardens. Lakeside Cafe am Neuen See is no secret, so make sure you arrive at this waterfront spot early enough to nab a table under the lush canopy, where you can watch punters glide out on adorable red rowboats to work up a thirst.

By Lara Picone

Lakeside Cafe am Neuen See in Berlin, Germany — Lakeside Cafe am Neuen See is incredibly popular as Berlin’s most picturesque beer garden.

61. Oerol Festival on the Dutch island of Terschelling

The 70-kilometre-long Dutch island of Terschelling in the North Sea is a sliver of paradise. It has wide ocean beaches backed by sand dunes, pine forests, wildflowers and bird-filled wetlands, and lime-green pastures dotted with sheep and cows, all of which are easily accessible via a filigree of bicycle paths.

During the summer solstice, the Oerol Festival (one of Europe’s finest landscape arts festivals) builds a temporary ideal society with dance, theatre and music performances, storytelling and art installations in the island’s dunes, forests, barns and historic villages. Its themes are based on our relationship with each other and with the environment and underpinned by a celebration of kindness and care for all living things.

A child participating in the Oerol Festival in on the Dutch island of Terschelling — The Oerol Festival builds a temporary ideal society with dance, theatre, music performances, storytelling and art installations.

Savour the long hours of sunlight well into the evening on the terraces of beach pavilion restaurants such as the bright blue Zandzeebar and the Heartbreak Hotel, where the spirit of Elvis lives on in its music and food offerings.

By Susan Gough Henly

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62. A perfect sunny weekend in Zurich, Switzerland

I didn’t mean to arrive in Zurich on the day of the world’s largest techno-parade, but here I am, trying to find the cathedral with the Marc Chagall windows, Fraumünster, while weaving between throngs of high-spirited partygoers.

From this festival atmosphere to the 1200 public water fountains that come into their own when the heat is turned up, this is a city that knows how to do summer. People lie under willow trees on the grassy flanks of Lake Zurich and seek dappled shade along the banks of the Limmat River, feet dangling in the cool water. And they while away hours at the many outdoor pools that reflect the city’s tradition-rich bathing culture.

Aerial view of Zurich, Switzerland — The bright and lively hues of Zurich in the summer.

Visiting a badi is an integral part of daily life in summer and I see it play out the next day when I head to Seebad Utoquai, a 19th-century bathing house right on the lake. Locals sunbathe on the wooden upper terraces. They jump and dive into the clear, mild water. They read books and the Sunday papers.

I swim out to a raft anchored in the lake and rest for a few minutes – mountains on the skyline in one direction and the outline of the medieval Old Town in the other. Two swans idle past, as leisurely as this blue-sky day feels.

By Imogen Eveson

Swans on the Limmat River in Zurich, Switzerland — Swans frequent the crystal waters of the Limmat River.

63. St Anton am Arlberg, the Austrian Alps

St Anton am Arlberg is best known for being a winter destination and the region that pioneered the Arlberg technique, which revolutionised downhill skiing. But flick the switch to summer and you’ll find the weather in this pretty Austrian village is positively glorious: rent an e-bike, find a yoga class, go on a mountain hike, and meet with likeminded nature lovers from around the world who are interested in active experiences that offer plenty of breathing space. Wander along the Wonder Walking Trail to the fairy-tale Sennhütte for lunch and you’ll find rushing streams, locals wearing lederhosen and cows dotted around flower-filled meadows in the alpine environment. It’s like popping up out of the pages of a storybook.

Scenery of St Anton am Arlberg in the Austrian Alps — The utterly fairytale-like scenery of St Anton am Arlberg.

Next up, three unexpected places in Northern Europe: 64-66 out of our 100 places to chase the sun around the globe.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Top places to chase the sun in Central Europe