While European travel is often about the cities – Paris, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam – we shouldn’t forget about its stunning and varied countryside and all of the exciting ways to experience it. Here are five suggestions of ways to get to know Europe’s rural and regional areas:

Go on a river cruise

Europe is home to a veritable flood of gorgeous rivers that wind their ways through some of the most stunning landscapes imaginable.  An incredibly relaxing way of travelling, you can get around Germany, Austria, France and Russia on small ships that cruise the Rhine, the Danube, the Volga, the Elbe, the Loire, the Rhone and the Seine among many others.

Take a wine tour

France, Italy, Spain… their vineyards are the original and the best. Why not take some time to explore the regions that are synonymous of the most famous wines in the world, like Burgundy, Champagne, Rioja, Tuscany? There is nothing like sampling wines where they’ve been created and meeting the artisans who devote their life to creating them. Get a tailored tour to fit in with your budget and itinerary and maximise the experience with expert advice.

Hike through the fjords

Don’t pine for the fjords any longer. The famous fjords of Norway boast breathtakingly spectacular scenery and a long history of Nordic culture. Visit in summer for the best weather, when you can also spend time kayaking or cruising.

Rent a cottage, anywhere

There are plenty of options all over Europe to rent small cottages deep in the middle of nowhere. Find some friends, pack up a car, leave behind technology, lose the internet, disconnect your phone and spend some time in the countryside. It’ll be good for you, promise.

Discover some country towns

Driving yourself through new countries is an eye opening (and occasionally hair-raising) experience that will do wonders for your knowledge of geography (and sense of gratitude for being alive). Take some time to see how the locals live, visit a few old buildings and find out about some history.

With Europe so accessible and affordable, there is really no good reason not to schedule a few weekends away for exploration, relaxation and enjoyment. Stop putting it off and start doing!

Vivienne Egan writes for SmoothRed which specialises in wine tours across Europe.