The best way to Europe
WestJet has transatlantic destinations covered this summer with direct flights from Calgary to Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Paris, Reykjavik and Rome. And now, with our destination guides, deciding where to go is (almost) as easy as getting there. Click the buttons below to learn about each destination.
Barcelona
Dublin
Edinburgh
London
Paris
REYKJAVIK
ROME
Settled by Vikings in 874 AD, Iceland isn’t typically as cold as its name sounds. It is cool, though, with an interesting history, volcanoes, glaciers and more. Here are six compelling things to see and do when you fly into Keflavik, Iceland, located 50 kilometres south of the capital Reykjavik.
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The largest church in Iceland, Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church that towers over central Reykjavik. With a 73-metre-high tower, it has pretty fab views of the city and the surrounding mountains and ocean.
Go to the top of Hallgrimskirkja
Visit Arbaer Open Air Museum
A must for anyone with Icelandic roots, Arbaer is also a very good place to learn about Iceland’s early history. Guides in traditional clothing, restored old homes, animals and traditional crafts show the way life used to be.
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One of Reykjavik’s oldest streets, Laugavegur is a great place to buy souvenirs, but it also has lots of restaurants, bars and interesting little boutiques. Even if you’re not looking for any of these things, Laugavegur is good for people-watching and photos, thanks to its brightly painted buildings.
Wander Laugavegur
Go whale watching
On a short day trip from Reykjavik, you can see majestic humpback and minke whales, maybe even some dolphins and porpoises, too. Book in advance and be sure to bring a good raincoat and layers.
Named one of the World’s Most Awesome Places by National Geographic in 2012, the Blue Lagoon is a stunning geothermal spa where you can relax and soak up the mineral-rich hot water. Best, it’s less than an hour from downtown Reykjavik. Stay tuned to news alerts as the area is experiencing renewed volcanic activity.
Visit the Blue Lagoon
–– Descriptions written by Shelley Boettcher
The word dynjandi means “thunderous” in Icelandic, and you’ll know why when you visit the massive Dynjandi Waterfall (also sometimes called Fjallfoss), located approximately five hours away by car from Reykjavik. Climb to the top via a rocky path, and you’ll pass a series of other waterfalls on the way up.
Climb a waterfall
Whether you’re in search of romance, beaches, history, cool architecture or good food, Barcelona has it all. This vibrant Mediterranean city is beautiful during the day and comes alive at night, with so much to see and do.
BArCELONA
There’s nothing in the world like the stunning La Sagrada Familia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by the late Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction started on the massive cathedral/work of art in 1882 and while it still hasn’t been finished, it is open to the public.
La Sagrada Familia
Park Guell
Eusebi Guell was a wealthy industrialist who hired Antoni Gaudi to create a park, which opened in 1926. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features Gaudi’s organic shapes and bright mosaic works (look for the lizard!) and it’s also home to interesting wildlife, too, including parrots and hummingbird hawk moths.
Las Ramblas
A legendary street (boulevard, really) that runs through Barcelona, Las Ramblas is about 1.2 kilometres in length and will take you through some of the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods. Explore the area around the wonderful La Boqueria Market, Gran Teatre del Liceu and Placa de Catalunya in particular.
Mirador Torre Glories
Towering over the city, Mirador Torre Glories opened its 30th floor as a public observation deck in 2022. If you’re not afraid of heights, this is a stop for you; you’ll have unobstructed 360-degree views of the city from high, high up.
Costa Brava
Take a day trip to Costa Brava, the gorgeous coast northeast of Barcelona. It will take a little over an hour to get there, and once you’re there, you can swim, kayak, snorkel or simply park yourself at a beautiful restaurant and spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and views. You may want to spend a few days!
Montserrat
Another popular day trip from Barcelona is Montserrat, a mountain range that resembles a giant, elaborate sandcastle. The Benedictine monastery there — Santa María de Montserrat — was founded in 1025 and is now a pilgrimage spot famous for the Black Madonna, a statue dating back to at least the 12th century.
Make Dublin your home for a few days, and you can explore Ireland’s rich Celtic history, the rugged coastline and lush natural beauty, too. Renowned for its rich literary and visual history, this small European city also has a vibrant music scene. There’s so much to see and do!
DUBLIN
Explore the past
A stop (clearly) for the adults in the crowd, the Irish Whiskey Museum is in the historic heart of Dublin and features a massive selection of Irish whiskeys to try, plus a detailed look at how it’s made and its importance historically, both within Ireland and around the world. Depending when you visit, you may get a chance to hear some live music and storytelling, too.
Taste some whiskey
Ireland is famous for its musicians (U2 and Sinead O’Connor, to name just two). Why not check out what the local scene is like now, with a visit to some local live music venues and pubs? Whether you’re looking for traditional Irish folk music or modern rock or singer-songwriters, you’ll find it all.
Hear some tunes
Just a day trip from Dublin, the Giant’s Causeway features roughly 40,000 interlocking hexagonal basalt columns, formed by an ancient volcanic eruption some 50 million years ago. A World Heritage Site, it’s located on Ireland’s north cost, about five kilometres from the town of Bushmills.
Go big
Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett are just three famous authors with ties to Dublin. Sign up for a literary tour to explore Dublin through their eyes and visit places they frequented during their lives. Yes, you’ll likely stop at a pub or two … and if that’s not enough, you’ll also find myriad wonderful independent bookstores throughout Dublin.
Read about it
While we’re on the subject of books, one of the world’s oldest manuscripts, The Book of Kells, dates back to around 800 AD and is on view at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland’s oldest university. Written in Latin, the Book of Kells is known for its elaborate Celtic art.
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One of the greenest cities in the United Kingdom, Edinburgh is the lively capital of Scotland, with a vibrant arts and festival scene and a fascinating history. Wonderful for walkers, it also offers day-trippers easy access to the Scottish Highlands and beyond.
Catch a performance
Dance. Circus. Opera. Spoken word. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes over the city every August, with shows in all corners of the city, from concert halls to shipping containers. The rest of the year, head to The Strand for stand-up comedy from established and up-and-coming performers.
Visit the castle
Sitting atop an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is the city’s most iconic building. Get your pic taken beside Mons Meg, a massive 576-year-old cannon, and be dazzled by the Scottish Crown jewels, the oldest in Britain.
Tour Holyroodhouse
King Charles III’s Scottish home, Holyroodhouse is a grand palace with wild history that includes Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Rumour has it the building is haunted, too. Check out the royal gardens and the Holyrood Abbey ruins — and keep an eye out for ghosts.
Go shopping
You’ll find lots of the big-name designers in Edinburgh, but why not check out the local scene? Perhaps a stop at the Grassmarket, where you’ll find indie artists, vintage clothing (tweed!) and creations from up-and-coming Scottish designers, plus Scottish cheese, whiskies and more.
Book a pub crawl
Pick a theme (Edinburgh’s literary history, for instance, or something more rowdy), or do a self-guided tour with an app. Options and stops range, but you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the city’s colourful past — and enjoy a beverage or two along the way.
Look for monsters
Loch Ness, best known as home to the Loch Ness Monster, a.k.a. Nessie, can be visited on a day trip from Edinburgh. Even if you don’t see the mythical beast, you’ll still enjoy a visit to this chilly but beautiful freshwater lake, located in the Scottish Highlands.
With daily flights from Calgary to London Heathrow, the massive English city offers visitors everything from history to fashion, arts and fine dining.
LONDON
Tour the Tower
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Tower of London has a fascinating and lengthy history — home of the Royal Mint and the Crown Jewels of England, a prison for Queen Elizabeth I, and, 200 years later, spies in the First and Second World Wars.
Go High with the Eye
The London Eye, sometimes called the Millennium Wheel, is a massive observation wheel on the River Thames. It opened in 2000 and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Go on a clear day and, like the British Band The Who sang, you “can see for miles and miles.”
Visit Stonehenge
Get out of the city and take a day trip to Stonehenge. Built 4,000 years ago, this massive circle of rocks is older than Egypt’s Great Pyramids and is considered to be the most sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world.
See the Changing of the Guard
Your odds of seeing King Charles at Buckingham Palace are slim, but you can still witness the pomp and colour of the Changing of the Guard, a ceremony that has a history dating back hundreds of years. Book a tour in advance for Buckingham Palace; it’s only open to visitors in the summer.
Eat good things
You can eat at some of the world’s greatest restaurants in London. There are a total of 85 restaurants in the city that hold Michelin stars as of 2025. If that’s not your style – or in your budget — try an order of fish and chips wrapped in paper and served with salt and vinegar.
Shop
It can be fun to spend a few hours on a rainy day exploring London’s famous department stores: Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols are just four to consider. You’ll find everything from beautifully packaged tea to designer threads from around the world.
The largest city in France and the country’s capital, Paris — also known as the City of Love — is magical, whether you’re visiting famous cafés and galleries, taking a boat trip along the Seine River or gazing up at the Eiffel Tower.
PAris
Visit the Eiffel Tower
Built for the 1889 Paris Exposition, the Eiffel Tower has become known around the world as the symbol of Paris. Whether you gaze up at it by day, pay to go to the top, or stroll past to see its lights at night, you won’t want to miss it.
One of the most famous art museums in the world, the Louvre houses many outstanding works including the legendary Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1503. Protected by bullet-proof glass, the enigmatic portrait is valued at a whopping USD$60 million.
Check out the art at the Louvre
There are cafés everywhere in Paris, and each has its own charms — and, quite often, claim to fame, too. Two famous cafés include the Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, where the likes of Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway used to hang out.
Spend time in a café
One of the oldest districts in Paris, the Marais is a maze of cobblestone streets, little independent boutiques, cafés and museums, including the Picasso Museum. The neighbourhood is famous for its rich Jewish and LGBTQIA+ history, too.
Explore an ancient neighbourhood
Paris has a reputation for its flea markets, brimming with knick-knacks, art, books, even vintage clothing. The biggest is Les Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen at Porte de Clignancourt; expect to spend a couple of hours or more looking for one-of-a-kind treasures.
Look for deals in a flea market
Located in a basement in the Latin Quarter, the Caveau de la Huchette has been a jazz club since 1949. Go early if you want to find a seat, and be prepared to dance, as adults young and old – including many Parisians — practice their swing and jive skills.
Go dancing
Seeing the bright lights of Paris from the Seine River is an extraordinary experience. Myriad options are available, whether you want to have dinner or simply want to take pics while you sail.
Take a boat
Rome, the capital of Italy, is sometimes referred to as the Eternal City for its timeless beauty and ancient architecture. A gateway to other Italian cities as well as much of the Mediterranean, it is home to an endless list of fine dining, shopping and sightseeing opportunities.
No visit to Rome is complete without seeing the Colosseum. Whether you buy tickets to tour inside this ancient amphitheatre — the largest in the world — or simply gaze at its majestic exterior, you can’t help but be awed.
Check out the Colosseum
Legend has it that if you drop a coin in the Trevi Fountain, you’ll return to Rome again one day. Whether or not you spend the money and time, do find a moment to gaze on this intricate Baroque-style fountain, which dates back to the 18th century.
Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain
Built around 2,000 years ago, the Pantheon is the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. Don’t forget to look up at the oculus — the central opening — to watch the overhead clouds. A slew of famous Italians are buried here, too, including the Renaissance painter Raphael.
Ponder science at the Pantheon
Spend a couple of hours people-watching in the famous market in the central Roman neighbourhood of Campo de Fiori. One of the oldest markets in Rome, the Campo de Fiori market is still popular with Romans for its bright stalls selling everything from fruit to flowers to inexpensive linen and kitchen wares.
Wander around the market
Peer through the Aventine Keyhole, on Aventine Hill, for a picture-perfect view of St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance. It’s also worth nothing that you’ll be looking through three sovereign states; you’ll be standing in the Sovereign Order of Malta, looking through Italy to the Vatican. Speaking of the Vatican, the Vatican Museums deliver a jaw-dropping array of historical artifacts and artistic wonders, including Michelangelo’s famous artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Take a peek
Gelato is Italy’s legendary ice cream, and you’ll find this sweet treat everywhere. There are so many flavours to choose from, but be sure to try lemon, amarena cherry and stracciatella, which features delicious streaks of chocolate in a creamy base. On a hot day, it can’t be beat.
Savour local flavours
