EnjoyTravel.com offers the best parking prices across all UK airports. Save Up To 45% at Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Luton, Liverpool, Gatwick, and more. Book now before these spaces sell out.

Book Now

By Katy Editor Katy is a seasoned budget traveller who can't say "no" to a cheap city break. When she's not planning another trip, she's dreaming of Georgian Khachapuri.

As a Scot, I’ve got a certain connection with castles. My homeland is full of them, and summer holidays as a kid were always packed with castle visits.

One of the most memorable was going to a medieval re-enactment at Fyvie Castle with my Dad and Granny as a 5-year-old. It was the middle of summer, warm(-ish, as summer in the northeast of Scotland goes) and bees were buzzing around as we watched the jousting. Granny had the sandwiches at the ready, and we were all set for an afternoon of fun.

Next thing I know, Dad is whacking my leg wildly with a newspaper. Turns out I was about to get stung by a wasp, so thanks Dad!

Despite any mildly-traumatic childhood memories, castles are always high up on my must-see list when I visit a new destination. So, when I spotted this article on the 26 Most Beautiful Castles in Europe earlier in the week, it immediately became more of a to-do list than pure diversion. I’m currently at a modest 6/26, so there’s still plenty of work to be done.

Some of them might look a little familiar to you, too, even if you’ve never visited. Easily one of the most famous on the list is Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, built in the 1870-1880s for “mad” King Ludwig II, and the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.

Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, it’s easy to see how the picturesque setting overlooking the Alpsee lake could inspire a fairytale. And while Neuschwanstein was King Ludwig’s pet project, nearby Hohenschwangau Castle was the family summer home, so really it’s a 2-for-1 deal if you visit. Add in the hiking trails and cable car offering breathtaking views, and you’re on to a winner.

What you might not know is that another one of those castles, Alcazar de Segovia in Spain, also claims to have inspired Cinderella’s castle. The medieval fortress-turned-royal palace is much older than its German competition, with the first written mention dating back to the 12th century.

The town of Segovia is only an hour away from the Spanish capital, making it a popular day trip for city breakers. As well as the gothic cliff-top castle, the Roman aqueduct cutting through town and the imposing cathedral are seriously impressive sights. Just don’t do what I did and take “the scenic route” back to the centre in the baking summer heat. The Diet Coke at the end was the best I’ve ever tasted, though.

The Disney doesn’t end in Spain, either. Switzerland’s Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva inspired Prince Eric’s Castle in The Little Mermaid, as well as a poem by Lord Byron and several works of art.

Perched on the water at the far end of the lake from Geneva, the area is especially popular with music fans due to the legendary Montreaux Jazz Festival. Somewhat less expected is the Freddie Mercury statue overlooking the lake—a homage to the artist, who settled in the town when Queen bought over Mountain Studios, which is now a museum dedicated to the band.

Film buffs might also recognise opulent Culzean Castle on the west coast of Scotland from a whole other kind of on-screen moment, having appeared as Lord Summerisle’s home in the 1973 cult classic The Wicker Man. Like all good imposing castles, this one, too, is perched atop a cliff, with views towards the Isle of Arran and seemingly endless gardens and woodland.

Culzean is right in the middle of Robert Burns Country, making it an ideal stop on a tour around the life and times of Scotland’s Bard. You’ll want to visit the town of Alloway, Burns’ birthplace, to get your fill of history in the Burns Birthplace Museum and take in the picturesque River Doon. But only hang around until after dark if you’re not afraid to hear the “ghaists and houlets nightly cry”.

Each of the 26 stunning castles included evokes a sense of wonder to me, and clearly I’m not the only one who has felt that way over the centuries. Then I read about all the unfamiliar places they’re surrounded by, and I can easily find myself planning a whole trip based around one neo-Gothic castle in central Slovakia.

So tell me, readers, do castles do it for you, too? How many on the list have you been to, and which ones would you recommend that aren’t included? I’ll start— Dunnottar Castle may be a total ruin, but you tell me that amazing clifftop location doesn’t deserve a mention! Just hit ‘Reply’ to let us know.

In true American style, Colorado has several superlative claims to fame: the highest and longest cog railroad in the world, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, the highest suspension bridge in the US (China nabbed “in the world” on that one)… Impressively, the list goes on.

Boasting over 300 days of sunshine a year, the state really is a place to get outdoors. Rocky Mountain National Park may be tempting, but it’s also one of the country’s most popular. Visit during the quieter autumn period, if you can, and you’ll get the added soundtrack of elk rutting season. If that sound isn’t eerie enough, spend a night at the haunted Stanley Hotel— so creepy it inspired The Shining.

Mesa Verde NP is all about the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, the largest of which, the “Cliff Palace”, has around 150 rooms. Meanwhile, you can probably guess what Great Sand Dunes NP has to offer—but these dunes really are great, coming in at a mountainous 750 ft high. Best enjoyed from the comfort of a sled, if you ask us, especially once you’ve climbed to the top!

Of course, you might be less inclined to hurtle down one of Colorado’s sandy slopes than its more famous powdery ones, and that’s perfectly understandable. If you don’t want to splash out on resorts like Vail or Aspen, laid-back Sunlight Mountain could be the answer. Adult lift tickets cost around $80, and there’s hardly a queue to speak of.

On top of that, the perfect solution for resting your weary legs just down the hill in Glenwood Springs, home to the largest hot springs in the world. But largest does = most famous = busiest, so opt for the pools at Iron Mountain for a quieter experience.

It’d be remiss of us not to mention Denver, too—an undeniably colourful city, both literally and metaphorically. That’s clear from the huge amount of street art decorating walls, the rainbow murals of the International Church of Cannabis, and the giant blue bear peering in through the Colorado Convention Center’s windows.

There’s clearly way more to the Mile High City than just the impressive landscape and a reputable craft brewing scene (though they definitely don’t hurt). But it’s art installations like Meow Wolf Convergence Station, which might just be the most bonkers exhibition we’ve ever heard of, that put this place firmly on our radar.

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• Passengers due to set sail on a three-year cruise have been left with an unexpectedly clear diary, after Life at Sea cancelled their sailing just weeks before it was due to leave.
• AWell-meaning but completely missing the mark, Bristol Airport has been ridiculed online for its new prayer room that looks more like a bus shelter.
• Sunday was officially the busiest day ever at US airports, with over 2.9 million travellers scanned through TSA checkpoints.
• And finally, after going viral with a post about a cancelled booking, an angry Airbnb host has come out on top—all thanks to a mouse.
  Kyle Toomey warned his guests that, due to nearby construction, rodents were occasionally spotted in the area and his neighbour had seen one the day before. This turned out to be a mistake, as not long after checking in, the guests requested a refund, which was supported by AirBnB.
  Taking to TikTok in a rage, the host asked people to tag AirBnB in the comments to get their attention, which eventually got him a full refund—as well as a new booking to cover the dates. No doubt he was cheesing from ear to ear!