Slow Travel Five Favorite European Destinations

Pauline Kenny

I selected these places as my favorites for a Slow Travel trip to Europe. Join us on the Slow Travel message board for more travel information.

Page Contents

Amalfi Coast | Central Umbria | Luberon | Cotswolds | Bernese Oberland

1. The Beautiful Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy

The Amalfi Coast, in the Italian region of Campania, on the Mediterranean coast, sits on a mountainous peninsula that juts out from the southern edge of the Gulf of Naples.

In our classifieds, find Amalfi Coast vacation rentals, hotels and other travel services (tours, tour guides, car services, and more).

Read our Amalfi Coast vacation rental reviews, restaurant reviews and hotel reviews.

Travel Notes

Sorrento and Amalfi Area: Things to do in Sorrento and on the Amalfi coast.
Sorrento, Capri & the Ancient Cities: Don't take the overcrowded boat tour to the Blue Grotto! Rent your own boat and explore some of the other equally beautiful areas.
Herculaneum, Ancient City South of Naples: Detailed guide with photos to the houses in Herculaneum.
Two Delightful Thermal Gardens on the Island of Ischia: A description of two spas on Ischia: Poseidon Gardens and Negombo.

See more of our Amalfi Coast travel notes and the Wikitravel Campania Travel Guide.

See our Amalfi Coast photos, Pauline's Italy Photos and a Google Map showing main destinations.

Trip Reports

Intensive Language Course in Florence Then Decompression in Sorrento: Mother and daughter share brain-frying intensive Italian language course in Florence for two weeks, then on to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast.
Sorrento - Beautiful One Day, Perfect the Next: An enchanted April experience as wisteria scents the air and the whole of the Amalfi Coast seems carpeted in spring blossom.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum & Other Misadventures in Rome, Naples & Amalfi: Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Naples.

See more Amalfi Coast travel journals.

2. Central Umbria, the Green Heart of Italy

Umbria is one of the few landlocked regions in Italy. It sits between Tuscany and Le Marche and has some of the characteristics of each of these regions.

In our classifieds, find Umbria vacation rentals, hotels and other travel services (tours, tour guides, car services, and more).

Read our Umbria vacation rental reviews, restaurant reviews and hotel reviews.

Travel Notes

One Day in Assisi: Itinerary for a day trip to Assisi, shopping, restaurants, festivals, when to visit, practical information.
Perusing Perugia: Detailed travel notes for Perugia, a Companion Guide to the Tourist Map Distributed by the Perugia Tourist Office.
The Umbrian Sagra Survival Guide: How to behave at a local Italian festival, which ones to go to.
Umbria. Italy's Oasis: Things to do in and around Perugia and central Umbria. Megan from Italy.

See more of our Umbria travel notes and the Wikitravel Umbria Travel Guide.

See our Umbria photos, Pauline's Italy Photos and a Google Map showing main destinations.

Trip Reports

The Search for Bubble Wrap in Tuscany: Staying at Agriturismo and driving through the countryside of Tuscany (Radda, San Gim, Pienza, Montalcino) and Umbria (Assisi, Todi, Montefalco, Spello) in search of great food.
Where's Your Passport? How Not To Start A Trip To Umbria: An overview of Russell's eight days traveling through Umbria, with the help of a TomTom naviagation system.
A Springtime Slow Travel Prize, Ten Glorious Days In Umbria And A Little Bit Of Rome: Ten days of exploring the beautiful hills of Umbria and a quick visit to Rome.

See more Umbria travel journals.

3. The Luberon in Southern France

The Luberon is in south-eastern France, in the Provence region.

In our classifieds, find Luberon vacation rentals, hotels and other travel services (tours, tour guides, travel consultants).

Read our Luberon vacation rental reviews, restaurant reviews and hotel reviews.

Travel Notes

Activities for Children and Families: Things to do in the Luberon area of Provence; hiking, exploring, markets, etc.
Food for Children and Families: Finding food for non-adventurous eaters in the restaurants and cafes of Provence.
Hiking in the Luberon: Basics for hiking, how to plan your trip, details for four hikes.
The Outdoor Markets of Provence: How to find them and what to expect.

See more of our Luberon travel notes and the Wikitravel Provence Travel Guide.

See our Luberon photos and Pauline's France photos.

Trip Reports

Ten Days in Provence: A Taste of Provence
We Fell in Love With France: We spent our first week in Paris and had a family reunion, and spent our second week in glorious Provence.
Footloose in Provence & Paris: Thirteen days in Provence and four days in Paris, including some wonderful food and wine, a day in Nice, and an unexpected encounter with "Good Year"

See more Luberon travel journals.

4. The Golden Cotswolds in Southern England

The Cotswolds is an area of rolling hills, beautiful villages and sheep, in the southwest of England, west of London.

In our classifieds, find Cotswolds vacation rentals and other travel services (travel consultants).

Read our Cotswolds vacation rental reviews, restaurant reviews and hotel reviews.

Travel Notes

Introduction to the Cotswolds: Where the Cotswolds are located, a short history, navigating the area.
Towns and Villages of the Cotswolds: Larger towns, market towns and villages in the Cotswolds.
Things to Do and See in the Cotswolds: National Trust houses, gardens, stone circles, Roman Roads, favorite drives.
A Guide to Cotswolds Shopping, Parking and Public Loos: The good shops, parking information and restrooms for the main Cotswolds towns.
Walking/Hiking in the Cotswolds: Walking and hiking in the Cotswolds on the public footpaths.

See more of our Cotswolds travel notes and the Wikitravel Cotswolds Travel Guide.

See our Cotswolds photos, Pauline's England photos and a Google Map showing main destinations.

Trip Reports

A Family trip to England, including a 50+ mile walk in the Cotswolds
Spring 2005 - Southern England: A month in England - Salisbury, Somerset, Cotswolds, Devon

5. The Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps

The Bernese Oberland mountains (called “Berner Oberland” in German) run from the eastern edge of Lake Geneva to the western edge of Lake Lucerne.

In our classifieds, find Switzerland vacation rentals and hotels.

Read our Switzerland vacation rental reviews and hotel reviews.

Travel Notes

Why go to Switzerland?: I love traveling in Switzerland.
Overview of mountain towns: Notes about the main mountain towns in Switzerland. See the Travel Notes section for details on the hiking areas.
Hiking in Grindelwald: Grindelwald is one of the most popular mountains towns in the Berner Oberland, just south of Interlaken.
Hiking in Kandersteg: Kandersteg is at the end of a valley in the Berner Oberland.
Gstaad, in the Berner Oberland: All about Gstaad and Saanen in Saanenland, the most western valley in the Berner Oberland.
Hiking in Gstaad: Gstaad is in the western-most valley of the Berner Oberland, near the French speaking part of Switzerland.

See more of our Switzerland travel notes and the Wikitravel Bernese Highlands Travel Guide.

See our Switzerland photos, Pauline's Switzerland Photos and Google Map showing main destinations.

Trip Reports

Switzerland in Slow Motion - 100 Miles on the Alpine Pass Route: Our family's 14-day, 100-mile hike through the Swiss Alps on the Alpine Pass route.
Daydreaming in Switzerland
Switzerland in Summer: Arrive in Zurich, a week in Engelberg, a week in Grindelwald (Bernese Oberland).

See more Switzerland travel journals.