Historical holiday destinations in Europe and beyond

Italy has Rome, Pompeii and Florence. Spain has Granada, the Alhambra, Ronda and Seville. In Turkey there’s Ephesus, Istanbul and Gallipoli. And Greece gives us the Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia. And these are just the destinations on our doorstep. The world is full of ancient sites and historic places from Machu Pichu in Peru to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here’s our pick of historical holiday destinations in Europe and further afield.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

Italy

Where to start? You could spend your whole holiday in Rome and not see every historical treasure. After imagining lions and gladiators battling in the Colosseum, there’s the Vatican Museums to explore, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to gaze up at, the Trevi Fountain to toss a coin into, and the Spanish Steps to sit on. In Florence you can walk through the Medici family’s historic palaces of power and trace the footsteps of Michelangelo right up to his iconic statue David, perhaps his most celebrated work.

Pompeii is a living history book, a real Roman city complete with shops, villas, bathhouses and brothels. When Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, the city was captured for posterity: a slice of life in Roman times. Today Pompeii is one of the world’s most hauntingly beautiful archaeological destinations, not to be missed if you’re historically inclined.

Rome’s astonishing Colosseum and Constantine Arch

Greece

Classical Greece, the birthplace of democracy and Western civilisation, is also high on our historical holiday list. In Athens you can follow the footsteps of great thinkers and philosophers like Socrates and Plato and see places where they engaged in discussion and debate. The Acropolis is the city’s crowning glory with its iconic Parthenon and Temple of Athena, but you should also visit the National Archaeological Museum which houses some of the most priceless and impressive Greek antiquities in the world.

Out on the Peloponnese peninsula it’s possible to visit Olympia, where the very first Olympic Games were held in 8th century BC. Although now largely ruins, Olympia is an atmospheric place and the remains of the stadium, temples and training areas can still be seen. You can walk under the arched entrance that led athletes into the original stadium and even see the original stone start and finish lines.

The Acropolis of Lindos, Rhodes, Greece

Spain

Spain’s history is most sumptuously displayed in its architecture. In Granada, the exquisite Alhambra is a maze of magnificent palaces and colonnaded courtyards, each more intricately carved and decorated than the next. Wandering through its storied halls and manicured gardens, it’s easy to imagine the grand lives and glory of 13th century Spanish royalty. While it’s easy to be entranced by the Alhambra from the inside, it’s equally impressive when seen from afar. Albacín, one of Granada’s oldest neighbourhoods, is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses built on a medieval street plan on San Cristobel hill. Albacín is not only steeped in Moorish character and history, it also offers panoramic views of the Alhambra, most famously from San Nicolás Viewpoint. Go at sunset to see those famous red-hued walls glow the golden evening light.

Nearby Cordoba is a yellow-stoned city of old balconied houses, hidden plazas and paved winding streets. A thousand years ago, this was the cultured, sophisticated capital of Islamic Spain and testament to this is the mesmerising Mezquita, one of greatest works of Islamic architecture in the world. A walk through its cool, serene interior surrounded by its maze of high, sculpted and double arched pillars, is both inspiring and uplifting.

Inside Istanbul’s historic Blue Mosque, Turkey

Turkey

Turkey is a place where ancient empires, extraordinary landscapes and historical treasures collide. Istanbul, the only city in the world to straddle two continents, offers a glorious blend of Byzantine and Ottoman shapes and architecture in the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. And in the twisting streets of the Grand Bazaar (one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world) you’re hit with the sight, sound and fragrance of 5,000 shops selling everything from handwoven carpets to Turkish coffee and spices.

For a deeper dive into history, Greco-Roman Ephesus is one of the best-preserved cities in the ancient world. Celsus Library is certainly one of its most photographed - the elegant two-storey façade with its columns, statues and perfect proportions, is an architectural masterpiece and a testament to the skill of its makers. You can witness more recent history in Gallipoli, whose World War I battlefields scattered with poignant marble and bronze monuments, are a stark reminder of the not-so-distant past.  

History in stone, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Croatia

Holidays in Croatia often centre on its exquisite natural beauty, but many of its towns, cities and skylines could have been lifted from a fairytale. You’ll see bell towers and steeples, palaces and castles, stout city walls and rolling, terracotta-tiled roofs, often set against a backdrop of shimmering blue sea. Dubrovnik is the headline act. A walk along those famous curved medieval walls is the quintessential Dubrovnik experience, and the Old Town is densely packed with historical treasures including a pharmacy that has been open since 1317.

Split is another star historical attraction. The entire city is built around a huge palace complex that was originally built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It’s an extraordinary place, neither palace nor museum, but the busy heart of a thriving city where you can walk down streets that were once corridors, and gaze up at the palace’s original arches, walls, spires and columns above bustling shops and restaurants.

Exquisite Angkor Wat, Cambodia

For historical interest further afield…

If you’re hoping to travel further and witness not just historical sites but also cultural differences, why not consider a holiday in Asia or South America? In Cambodia, Angkor Wat - the largest religious monument in the world - is a maze of towers, temples and intricate carvings on a mind-blowing scale. Equally jaw-dropping, a visit to Machu Picchu in Peru is not only a seminal travel experience but also a historical look at religious, cultural and agricultural life in the ancient Incan Empire. And India inspires even the most well-travelled historian with sights like the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and numerous (some say two million) temples to explore.

Titan has a range of escorted tours and small group holidays to historical destinations in Europe and beyond. Head to our Home page to browse the full range.