Scotland has the sheer personality that makes for a trip of a lifetime. The most beautiful places in Scotland include its castles, world famous lochs, national parks, buzzy cities, historic towns, white sand island hideaways and natural wonders. You can visit Scotland with Luxury Gold as part of either our British Royale or our Castles & Kingdoms journeys – both of these travel from Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, across the border to Edinburgh, where we take in Edinburgh castle, a whisky tasting and the 17th century Mary King’s Close. And you could easily extend your journey to fit in some of the special Scotland attractions below.

Edinburgh

It’s hard to believe Edinburgh is real until you’re within it, meandering its cobbled streets and otherworldly nooks in search of ice cream or Harry Potter or whisky or books or vintage clothes, while the castle looms above you, as though it’s floating in the clouds, and the sound of bagpipes drifts on the wind. Edinburgh’s dazzling array of architectural styles makes it one of the most beautiful cities on earth to behold. See it all on a Scotland luxury tour.

2. Isle of Skye

Were you to ask, what is the prettiest part of Scotland?, many people will respond: the Isle of Skye. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago is a dramatic, rugged, 50-mile beauty, graced with nature’s most bountiful riches: mountains, volcanic rock formations, craggy coastline, shimmering lochs and heather-covered hills. Despite all the drama, it’s a distinctly serene place, ideal for those seeking a quiet, restorative Scotland trip.

You may also enjoy reading: The 10 Most Scenic Train Rides in Europe: From Switzerland to Scotland.

3. Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is the largest of the lakes of mainland Britain but only the second most famous lake in Scotland (after Loch Ness, of course). Alongside the area of wooded glens and braes that surround it (the Trossachs) this is a scenic area with a little bit of everything to offer. You can take a waterbus from various piers around the loch and explore the landscape – and you’re rarely more than an hour from Glasgow.

4. Cairngorms National Park

What is the most magical place in Scotland? Well, this national park in northeast Scotland looks like an ice queen took up residence centuries ago. The mountains that give the national park its name provide a unique arctic-alpine environment, with snowy peaks and reindeer at large. It’s a semi-tundra moorland habitat, home to ospreys, golden eagles, snow buntings, crested tits and many more rare species of wildlife. They’re not Scotland’s highest mountains, but they’re easily the wildest.

Bookmark for later: The Great Clans of Scotland

5. Stirling

There is something very special and uniquely Scottish about this little city that sits surrounded by swathes of gorgeous scenery, with a mighty castle sitting on an intrusive crag. The Old Town offers cobbled streets and historic buildings, and the castle ramparts have seen attacks, sieges and royal business dating back to the 12th century. You can look out from them, over the Forth Valley, the National Wallace Monument and the strategic approach to the castle gates.

6. The Argyll Peninsulas

There is a deliciously protected little microclimate in this glittering, oasis-like area of the west coast, where so many little nuggets of land jut out into the sea that Argyll comprises 3,000 miles of coastline, about the same as the whole of France. There are castles and forts aplenty and some incredible wildlife to spot too, including basking sharks, otters and white-tailed eagles.

You may also like to read: The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World You Need to Visit

7. The Highlands

People travel to Scotland on the sleeper train in order to fall asleep in one magical European city (London) and wake up in another (Edinburgh), but also because the views out of the window of the Highlands are spectacular – it feels like the most beautiful places in Scotland are flashing through your window. There’s the wilderness of Rannoch Moor and then lochs and glens all the way to the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the one from the Hogwarts Express.

8. Ben Nevis

This one is Scotland’s highest mountain, and the wider UK’s highest mountain too. And on a clear, crisp day the views from the top are electric, making the climb well worthwhile. If you don’t fancy the six to nine-hour hike, though, you can take the gondola up Aonach Mor next door. It’s intended for use by hill walkers looking to reach specific routes, but it offers panoramic views of the Scottish Highlands up and down, all year long, including the Great Glen and Ben Nevis himself.

Discover what’s so special about your Luxury Gold Travel Concierge: How Travel Concierge Shona Goes Above and Beyond

9. Isle of Mull

Embrace nature on Mull in the Inner Hebrides, where crags of solid black basalt sit against Maldives-esque white sand and whales, dolphins and porpoises can be spotted off the coast. The main town, Tobermory, is as beautiful as it sounds, too, with its row of colourful houses on a sheltered bay – a place to slow down, pottering in the old pub, tea room, cheese shop and mini distillery.

10. The Borders

The much-contested border between England and Scotland is one of the most beautiful places in Scotland for some leisurely sightseeing, with its unique blend of Scottish and Northern English charm, majestic landscapes and historical landmarks. Pretty towns here bustle with independent shops and cafes, which sit almost impossibly between castles and ruins. Particularly atmospheric is Jedburgh, a picturesque town which boasts the ruins of a Romanesque and early Gothic abbey, a brilliant castle-turned-jail-turned-museum.

Bookmark for later: Meet Andy Coulter, the Highland Piper with Royal Connections

11. Fingal’s Cave

A short boat ride from Mull, this enchanting sea cave is found on the uninhabited isle of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides. Formed over 50 million years ago, Fingal’s Cave is similar in structure to Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, sculpted entirely by nature from hexagonal basalt columns which appear to rise directly from the sea. The volcanic columns are home to black guillemots and puffins, creating a scene that is pure fantasy.

12. Isle of Barra

In the Outer Hebrides, Barra is a rugged beauty that has been jokingly referred to as Barradise and Barrabados – for its white sands, turquoise waters, but also its hills, machair and moor, not to mention the sight of planes landing on the hard-sand beach at low tide. There are epic adventures to be had on Barra, including sea kayaking trips, surf lessons. snorkelling with seals and coasteering.

For the ultimate luxury tour to Britain, including Scotland, take a look at our British Royale or our Castles & Kingdoms small-group journeys.

The great thing about bucket lists is that every single one is different. Your particular bucket list may be about unique places to stay or unique places to eat, it may centre around traditional local cultures or culinary experiences, you may be in the market for outdoor activities, or you may just want to add some breathtaking views to the memory bank. Wherever your travel interests lie, we know that as a Luxury Gold guest, you will want to do it in style. Here are 10 unique vacations of the moment.

1. Chase the Northern Lights

Scientists think the furthest south the aurora borealis has been spotted is in Honolulu, and over recent years parts of Europe have had surprise sightings. But if you want to be fully immersed in the holographic splendor of the sun and earth’s clashing magnetic fields, you will have to commit more time and patience to the experience. To “chase” the northern lights, your best bet is to head to northern Norway, somewhere like Tromsö, where your probability of seeing the sky lit up with blues, greens and purples is 70-90% in cloudless conditions between August and April.

You may also enjoy reading:Unusual Architecture: Design Marvels Across Europe

2. Receive a Shaman’s Welcome in the Sacred Valley

Our Treasures of the Incas journey is one of our most unique vacations; once you’ve met a local artist in Lima, it’s time to venture into the Sacred Valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco. Here, a local shaman will perform a welcoming ceremony, designed to connect you to this magical, mystical place of natural beauty, before you head on to the travel bucket list classic, Machu Picchu. Dating back to pre-historic times, the welcome ceremony is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to Pachamama, the only goddess revered by the Indigenous people of the Andes. The journey continues on to Buenos Aires and to Rio de Janeiro for cocktails on Copacabana Beach.

3. Sleep Under the Stars in California

Don’t overlook what’s on your doorstep in favor of getting off the beaten path to find the world’s “hidden gems”. California’s National Parks are home to some of the most iconic views and landscapes on the planet. Yosemite is popular because it’s special – it has glacier-sculpted geology, fairytale sequoias, jewel-like lakes and so much more. Everyone who enters falls in love, particularly if they stay at one of 13 campgrounds, with access to a campfire.

4. Enjoy a Soothing, Open-air Onsen in Japan

Hot springs and the bathing facilities around them are called “onsen” in Japan, where they constitute an important part of daily life and are deeply rooted in the culture. Benefits of bathing in hot springs include relaxation, improved sleep, improved circulation, less joint pain, better skin and a clearer mind. Onsen etiquette usually requires full nudity and no tattoos. Our Majestic Japan journey features the Oirase Keiryu Hotel, one of our most unique places to stay, thanks to its onsen deep within the forest.

Bookmark for later: These Are The Most Unique Romantic Getaways The World Has To Offer

5. Get a Taste for the Wine Life in South Africa

South Africa is home to some of the most breathtaking views in the world. It’s a wildly diverse place to travel, with culinary experiences, wildlife spotting and outdoor activities all on the agenda. Those looking for unique family vacations choose the safari, but if following the vines has always appealed to you, this is the place to do that, too. On our Spectacular South Africa journey, we head to the historic Cape Winelands, where we travel by chauffeured vintage car to indulge in a wine tasting at Vergelegen Estate and a farm-to-table lunch at Boschendal Wine Estate. Sip a delicious Pinotage surrounded by astounding natural beauty – it’s one for the books.

6. Behold an Uluru Sunset

Two weeks in Australia – you’ve probably been meaning to do it for a while, if you haven’t already. Our luxury journey takes in some of the country’s more unusual vacation destinations, as well as classics like Sydney, Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef. Near the centre of Australia is Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, a large sandstone monolith. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Anangu. Stopping here to see the sun slip behind the rock is soul-stirring experience – this is a landscape of surreal proportions, awash with the pinks, purples and oranges that only the sun can conjure.

7. Spy the Elusive Tigers of Ranthambore

On the Essence of India, we take the Jan Shatabdi Express from historic Bharatpur to Ranthambore, one of our favorite and most unusual vacation destinations. It’s a vast expanse of wild jungle, with a 10th century palace at its centre, and it’s the greatest place to spot wild tigers. In the former private hunting grounds of the maharajahs of Jaipur, we join a Local Expert on a quest, exploring the fort’s crocodile-filled lakes and vine-laced chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) along the way.

You may also like: Step Inside the Most Unique Luxury Retreats in India

8. Take the Orient Express to Venice

This one is high on many bucket lists, and rightfully so. It is simply one of the world’s most decadent ways to travel, and it seems fitting that you should take it between two similarly decadent destinations: Paris and Venice. The carriages on the world famous train date from the Golden Age of travel, the 1920s and 30s, and the art-deco features are a feast for the senses, even without the views through the windows. Every detail and moment of a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been carefully considered.

9. Go Whale Watching in Kaikoura

New Zealand dazzles from top to bottom, with the makings of unique vacations every stop of the way. Our luxury journey, The Long White Cloud, takes in the wilderness of Wanaka, the adventure of Queenstown, the mammoth serenity of the Fiordland National Park and sulphuric Rotorua, where we tour a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. There are nonstop bucket list ticks here, but Kaikoura often tops them all, particularly if you love wildlife spotting. Giant sperm whales live reasonably close to the shore of Kaikoura year-round, and there is little on earth that tops spying one of these glorious creatures from a catamaran.

More travel inspiration for those seeing a unique vacation: These Are The Most Unique Romantic Getaways The World Has To Offer

10. Dance at Mardi Gras in New Orleans

You are never short of unique things to do in New Orleans, and a trip here should be considered a bucket list trip anyway, particularly by those seeking new culinary experiences. But if you can make it here for Mardi Gras, there is simply nothing on earth like it. On Fat Tuesday, right before Ash Wednesday, it’s an epic carnival featuring parades and parties of pure, unadulterated revelry. And if you can’t make it in March, our Southern Grace journey includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Mardi Gras World’s Blaine Kern Studios, a workshop that has created floats, costumes and props since 1947. It’s a whirlwind of colour and culture.

Feeling inspired be there unique vacations? Take a look at our collection of small group luxury journeys. 

Eating well in Paris is not difficult (even un poulet rôti in a brown bag from the market is delicious, par exemple), but if you want to eat at only the best restaurants in Paris, you must take care and you must plot your bookings well in advance. The long-time food capital of the world has a food scene that stretches far and wide, across arrondissements and cuisines, and you need your little black book to be very detailed, lest you trip up on idiosyncratic opening hours.

If you’re in town for multiple meals, you may want to factor in one extraordinary tasting menu (or menu de dégustation), one classic bistrot and one modern French restaurant, overseen by a chef of impeccable pedigree. You’ll find all three of these – and more – in our list below, which features our 10 current favorites. If you’re traveling with us on our Ultimate France journey, do discuss the possibility of extending your stay in Paris, so you can immerse yourself in the food scene, and eat a little bit of everything the food capital has to offer.

Le Clarence

31 Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, 8th arrondissement

 

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We’ll begin with a bang, at a restaurant that’s twice as elegant as its beautiful name. Le Clarence is a two Michelin star chateau of gastronomy set in a lavish 19th century private mansion, just off the Champs-Élysées. It has all the chandeliers, wood paneling, drapery and period artworks one could hope to see on a night out in Paris – a perfectly flamboyant setting for a high-end multi-course meal that’s always full of surprises. The restaurant describes its cuisine as “vibrantly modern” but chef Christophe Pelé’s history includes many of Paris’s most acclaimed French fine dining restaurants. Choose between a five or seven course tasting menu, and settle in to your jewel box surrounds as you’re regaled with – perhaps – kadaif of langoustine, pig ears, citrus and green chilli cream, or morel gyoza with caviar and squid ink, orgrilled scallop with Sicilian tangerine and sorrel cream. Who knows? No spoilers here.

Table by Bruno Verjus

3 Rue de Prague, 12th arrondissement

 

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Before he was a restaurateur, Bruno Verjus lived many lives – as a medical student, an entrepreneur, a food writer and a radio host – but he has always cared deeply about ingredients. Table – one of the best high-end restaurants in Paris – is his rightful place, where he sources the very best of everything and elevates each ingredient without distorting it. He will animatedly talk to you about his suppliers, if that’s your kind of thing. And though the table at Table is in fact a wave-shaped counter, this is not a restaurant with casual credentials –it has two Michelin stars, and currently sits at number 3 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It’s fine dining – a sensation of the Paris food scene –  but the atmosphere is warm and accessible. The daily menu is called “couleur du jour”, changing completely each day depending on what local producers have brought in. Bruno Verjus says, “we don’t place quantity orders, only quality”.

You may also enjoy reading: How Do Restaurants Get Awarded a Michelin Star?

Bistrot Paul Bert

18 Rue Paul Bert, 11th arrondissement

 

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What is the best French restaurant in Paris? It can be difficult for outsiders to decipher which traditional French restaurants are worth their appetites, but this bistrot is everything you need it to be. It has a mostly burgundy color scheme and a prix fixe menu which is presented to your table on its chalkboard. This is not just one of the best bistrots in Paris, it’s one of the best places to eat in Paris, and you must book it in advance (by phone, in as much French as you can muster). The menu is all your French dining dreams come true. For instance, to start: crème de lentilles au fois gras or house terrine. Then: onglet with shallots and fries, or sole meunière. Leave space for dessert, because all the French classics are here, vying to live in your memory forever: chocolate mousse, Grand Marnier soufflé, or the crown of your vacation: the Paris-Brest (a choux pastry ring, with praline crème mousseline).

Kubri

108 Rue Amelot, 11th arrondissement

 

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If you want to book something dynamic and creative, this Lebanese restaurant in the trendy north Marais is special. Kubri is run by three women, including chef Rita Higgins, who has put her beloved Lebanese cuisine firmly on the lists of the best restaurants in Paris, where it belongs. In a white and terracotta dining room, Parisians have fallen head over heels for Kubri’s three types of hummus (classic hummus, with zaatar and and dukkah; pea, mint and feta hummus; cuttlefish hummus). The rest of the menu is a riot of color and flavor, with meze dishes like cauliflower fattoush, with feta, crispy shallot, pistachio, herbs and lemon, as well as larger ‘tabak’ dishes like Lala roasted chicken with toum and black lime labneh. There are beautiful French and Lebanese wines, plus fabulous cocktails and homemade iced teas. Kubri is just a damn good time – for vegetarians, pescatarians, meat-eaters and everyone else, too.

Bookmark for later: The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024 and Where to Find Them

Septime

80 Rue de Charonne, 11th arrondissement

 

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Rue de Charonne is a long, winding 17th century road that spans the whole of the 11th arrondissement. There, eyewear boutiques sit between fromageries, concept stores and très chic French brands like Sessun and Isabel Marant. This is also where you’ll find Septime, which Michelin describes as “the quintessence of the new breed of Parisian restaurants, resolutely hip and trendy, but also unwaveringly committed to good food”. It’s true this has become a genre of its own, but Septime was early on the scene, with its stripped back, industrial style interiors (big wooden tables, exposed lightbulbs) and contemporary bistro kitchen helmed by a chef (Bertrand Grébaut) who rose through the ranks at three Michelin-star Arpège, with French food legend Alain Passard. The setting is relaxed, and the seven-course dinner is always a thrill from beginning to end. If you can’t get a table, its sister wine bar, Septime La Cave, is round the corner on Rue Basfroi, offering 10 rotating natural wines by the glass, and a few small plates.

Sushi B

5 Rue Rameau, 2nd arrondissement

If you love Michelin-starred sushi, find a way to make one of the eight seats at Sushi B your own. Close to the Richelieu site of the historic and grandiose National Library of France the diminutive Sushi B is quietly exquisite, with lots of marble, straight lines and fine glassware. Choose the omakase menu to enjoy the chef’s choice of sushi and sashimi as well as two plates of the day. Dishes that foodies wax lyrical about at Sushi B include Breton lobster with wild asparagus and broad beans in a soy-cream sauce, fillet of grilled seabass with spinach and lemon-flavored dashi, and sashimi of amberjack. Remember Sushi B if you need somewhere on a Sunday, when many restaurants are closed, or if you’re dining alone – you may just grab the last seat.

You may also be interested to read: This Country Takes the Crown for the Most Michelin-Starred Restaurants in 2024

Plénitude

8 Quai du Louvre, 8th arrondissement

 

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Follow the trail of luxury: in the Samaritaine department store, a veritable palace of fashion, food and lifestyle, owned by LVMH (Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA), you’ll find the Cheval Blanc Hotel, which describes itself as “a confidential haven”. Cheval Blanc is an incredibly sophisticated address, with glittering views of the Seine, and it contains the modern, light-filled dining room that belongs to Plénitude, a three Michelin-star cocoon of culinary wonders. Head Chef Arnaud Donckel is an artist and it’s impossible not to be awed by his process. He pays unfathomable attention to sauces, devoting himself to jus, dressings and elixirs and putting them centre stage. It’s like nothing you’ve seen or tasted before. And there’s yet more genius coming from pastry chef Maxime Frédéric, whose millefeuille took him two years to design. Plénitude means “fullness” and Michelin describes this epic Parisian restaurant as “the absolute pinnacle of fine dining”.

Le Colimaçon

44 Rue Vieille du Temple, 4th arrondissement

 

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Meandering the lively Marais on foot is a timeless activity for visitors to Paris, when the icons have been ticked off the sightseeing list. Once the city’s Jewish quarter, the Marais is full of patisseries, legendary falafel spots and big fashion brands, plus King Henry IV’s Place de Vosges, and the one-of-a-kind Centre Pompidou, too. But it’s never been a hub for the best restaurants in Paris, which is what makes Le Colimaçon such a find. It’s just a perfect little traditional French restaurant, exactly where you need it to be, with a big welcoming blackboard out the front, and adorable tables in windows with wrought iton balconies, overlooking the hubbub. It’s the pitstop you need in your back pocket. Head here for: six perfect crispy snails with garlic-parsley butter, eggs with truffle mayonnaise, knife-cut steak tartare with fries, duck confit, and bourbon vanilla crème brûlée. Then – if you can – get back out there and meander.

For even more French travel inspiration: Sophisticated And Stylish: Why Southern France Is Unmissable

Double Dragon

52 Rue Saint-Maur, 11th arrondissement

 

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Our fourth and final entry in the 11th arrondissement, where so many exciting menus are being drawn up every day, Double Dragon is an ‘Asian canteen’ run by sisters Katia and Tatiana Levha, who are also behind nearby Le Servan, the popular bistro with the big gold bar. Double Dragon holds a Bib Gourmand from Michelin for “cooking that is full of character”. Menus feature items like a Comte bao bun served with XO mayonnaise, a version of the Filipino dish lechon kawali (crispy, honey-glazed pork) and cauliflower kare-kare (Filipino curry) with peanut sauce and Thai chilli jam. Not forgetting the muscovado brownie with toasted rice ice cream. If they’re fully booked, you can usually put your name on a waiting list, so try your luck and head for the local caves à vin while you wait.

Les Arlots

136 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 10th arrondissement

This is a brilliant lunch if you need to be near the Gare du Nord, as visitors to Paris often do. But it’s one of the best places to eat in Paris if you don’t, too. It’s a small, cosy, carnivorous cavern, with a zinc bar and hundreds of wine bottles on shelves. There is scarcely a more ideal, more French plate than Les Arlots’ signature homemade herby sausage, with smooth, buttery mashed potatoes and gravy. And if that doesn’t sound very refined to you, wait until you eat it. There’s also (depending on seasonality and availability) a tuna tartare with (perhaps) artichoke and strawberry, and a divine dry-aged onglet steak (one of the best in the city). A sommelier will talk you through the wall of wine, and help you to choose something wonderful. Reservations are essential, particularly if you have a Eurostar to catch.

FAQs:

Is there a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower in Paris?

Currently, the two Michelin star Le Jules Verne occupies a space on the deuxieme étage (second floor), what they refer to as “a mythical setting”.

How many Michelin star restaurants are there in Paris?

As of 2024, there were 121 Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, making Paris the second city in the world for Michelin-starred restaurants, after Tokyo.

What is the most expensive restaurant in Paris?

At Guy Savoy, the 13-course tasting menu costs 680 euros per person. For comparison, Table by Bruno Verjus’s tasting menu costs 480 euros per person.

Of course exceptional French gastronomy is not only found in Paris. Take a look at our Ultimate France small group journey to see what else you could be tasting.