Folklore Tour Throughout Europe

Our trip begins in Dublin. After arriving in Ireland’s capital city, you’ll have the rest of the day to get acquainted with your guide and do some exploring!

There’s nothing more prominent in Irish folklore than leprechauns, which is why our primary attraction in Dublin is the National Leprechaun Museum. The museum helps tell the story of not just leprechauns but of all Irish folklore and mythology as well, including banshees, fairies, and the creature known as Púca.

A short flight takes us to northern Scotland, where we will search was the infamous Loch Ness Monster. Odds are we aren’t going to find the monster, but you can take a cruise around the 21-square-mile body of water where “Nessie” allegedly lives. The landscape around Loch Ness is breathtaking, including Urquhart Castle, a 16th-century castle that sits on the western bank of Loch Ness and now serves as a haven for visitors in search of the mythical monster.

Venture south into England to visit Sherwood Forest and the city of Nottingham. Both places are intricately woven into the folklore of Robin Hood. Sherwood Forest is filled with walking trails that take you by oak trees that are nearly 1,000 years old while the city of Nottingham and all of the towns around it are filled with landmarks related to the legend of Robin Hood.

Another short plane ride finally takes us to the European continent, more specifically to the banks of the Rhine River in Germany. Our main objective is visiting Lorelei Rock, a somewhat dangerous spot on the river where a mythical siren would sing and lure men to their deaths. The folklore has been referenced countless times in literature and music. This spot also offers great hiking trails and some of the most breathtaking views of the Rhine.

We stay in Germany another day to explore the myth of the Pied Piper in the city of Hamelin. In addition to being a charming German town, Hamelin fully embraces being the home of the Pied Piper. Just about every corner of the city has some monument or landmark celebrating the tale, including the famous Pied Piper Statue. Plus, once a week during the summer, the story of the Pied Piper is acted out in the center of town to the delight of visiting tourists.

Golem is a prominent creature in Jewish folklore, but he may be most famous in the Czech capital of Prague, which is our next destination. We will visit the Synagogue of Prague, the home of Golem. There are plenty of other Golem related activities in Prague, including a Golem restaurant, Golem bakery, and even a Golem-themed virtual reality experience, and that’s on top of the historic architecture and countless other attractions within the city.

On the last full day of our trip, we venture deeper into Eastern Europe until arriving in the Polish capital of Krakow. Once there, we’ll explore the legend of the dragon of Wawel, a beast from Polish folklore that dates back to the 13th century. The primary destination is Wawel Royal Castle, a gorgeous medieval castle with wonderful views of Krakow. However, the real highlights are an actual cave beneath the castle and a statue of a fire-breathing dragon.

From Dublin to Krakow, we have traveled over 1,300 miles and visited half a dozen different countries in a little more than a week. Before heading home, just take a moment to share with your fellow travelers one piece of folklore that you’ll never look at the same way again after seeing first-hand the place where the legend was created.