Lonely Planet lists its top European destinations for 2014

With the summer now upon us, anyone who still hasn't booked their holiday should certainly think about getting something sorted as soon as possible. And if you're in need of inspiration on where to go then you may be interested to hear that Lonely Planet has just announced its list of the top ten destinations in Europe for this year.

This is great news for those who don't have the budget, time or inclination to travel to somewhere far-flung, as the list contains plenty of wonderfully exotic destinations that are relatively close to home.

Taking the top spot on the Best in Europe 2014 list is Greece, which over the past few years has suffered from a dip in tourism because of concerns over the country's financial crisis, yet has now come storming back into fashion and is once again a first-rate holiday destination.

Lonely Planet is quick to point out the appeal of the Aegean Islands, which not only offer amazing beaches, but are also steeped in history and mythology, as well as offering some of the finest wine tasting opportunities in Europe.

Elsewhere, Denmark has also been included on the list, with the nation's popularity set to soar as a result of the recent increase in global fascination with the Vikings - largely thanks to the current Vikings exhibit at the British Museum, as well as the hit TV show, aptly named 'Vikings'.

Among the best places in Denmark to learn about the history of this iconic and fearsome civilisation are the likes of the National Museum in Copenhagen, and Ribe, which is the country's oldest town.

For something a little more fiery, you may instead want to head to Seville in southern Spain, which has been included on Lonely Planet's top ten European destinations and is famous for being the home of the passionate Spanish dance Flamenco.

Other places to have made the list include the likes of Toulouse in France, Plzen in the Czech Republic and the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.

Posted by Robin Western