Best places in Europe to visit: A modern-day Grand Tour

(CNN) — The Grand Tour was a rite of passage for men and women of certain wealth and status in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, taking in the best Europe had to offer.

While high prices are putting a dent in some travelers’ ambitions these days, more than two years of pent-up demand also has many globetrotters moving ahead full-throttle with grand European vacations.

And with convenient high speed rail connections and plenty of spectacular, not to mention off-the-radar, destinations on offer, there’s ample scope for the modern traveler to undertake their very own epic, cross-continental journey.

Here are 17 of Europe’s best destinations to visit:

Picos de Europa, Spain

Home to Spain’s first national park, the Picos de Europa are one of western Europe’s most overlooked mountain ranges. Jagged limestone peaks and plunging gorges are crisscrossed by well-marked hiking trails, with deep caves enticing more intrepid travelers. The vertiginous Fuente Dé cable car offers sweeping views and access to excellent walking routes.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

Deep within the Arctic Circle, Norway’s Lofoten Islands are a dream destination for outdoor fanatics, nature lovers and those who prefer their adventures well off the beaten track. Come between May and July and the sun does not dip below the horizon. Visit in midwinter and the dark skies dance with aurora borealis.

The islands’ craggy mountains and crystal clear inlets are home to a huge array of seabirds and marine life, while the beaches are regarded as some of the best in the northern hemisphere for surfing.

Throw in picture-postcard fishing villages and perfectly preserved Viking archaeology and you’ve got ample reason to make the effort to get here.

Apuseni Mountains, Romania

Romania’s Apuseni mountains offer cooler temperatures and uncrowded paths to summer hikers.

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Part of the western Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, the Apuseni make for the ideal summer break, with cooler temperatures and uncrowded paths through ancient woodland and limestone crags.

Brown bears and wolves prowl these hills, although it takes patience and a keen eye to spot them. Climbers can try a number of different protected via ferrata routes which rise from the riverbank south of the village of Vadu Crisului.

Ephesus, Turkey

Ephesus: Europe’s most complete classical city.

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The ancient Greco-Roman city of…