Something traditional: Paris in April. The cherry trees are in blossom all over town. It’s nippy enough for a jacket or a light coat but warm enough to dine outside. No finer food or wine. But make side trips too. Monet’s garden for example. In Paris, leave time for lots of park strolling and cafe sitting.
A liitle different: I loved the Scandanavian countries. Denmark was my favorite, but not as beautiful as Norway. I did take the train along the Oslo Fjord and always wanted to go back to Norway and take the train from Oslo to Bergin – a small town on the western coast that is backed by the mountains. There is quite an art colony there, so I have heard. I’ve been told it rains almost every day too. But the train ride is supposed to be spectacular!
Take the Orient Express from Istanbul to Paris. Or take a shorter trip on it.
France or Italy - nowhere else touches them for history, culture, food and wine. Avoid July and August to avoid heat and crowds. I’d take a driving tour of vineyards in either Provence or Tuscany. Beautiful.
Croatia ticks most of your boxes, if you don’t go in mid summer (and even then, it’s not generally unbearably hot). You don’t say where you live, though - if it’s the US, it might not be the most convenient place to get to.
Read the thread title as “While on Earth, Where should I go on holiday”
We went around the world last year and this year we’ve decided to go somewhere else…
I can recommend Munich. We have just come back from a week’s holiday there. It ticks all of your boxes, and it’s one of the most civilised places I have ever visited.
I’d recommend Asturias . It’s a region in northern Spain. Now I know what you’re thinking. Spain? Isn’t that going to be hot? No it won’t be. Spain has a very varied climate. I’d say it’s perfect for your needs. Do you speak Spanish? It’d be fun to get to practice it. But I have to warn though that the tourism industry there doesn’t seem to be so oriented towards international tourists as it is national tourists from other parts of Spain.
history:
This place has a lot in common with Ireland and Scotland with its Celtic roots. They even play bagpipes and drink cider!
nice scenery:
You can see from the link above, but it has tons of great vistas and amazing cliffs and mountains.
good food and wine
Seafood is great, if that’s your thing. Who needs wine when you can drink great Austrian Cidra?
lying on a beach:
You can do that, but it’s not the only thing there.
too much sun:
It’s overcast quite a bit there, but probably not as often as in Ireland
New Zealand! That’s the one place in the world I most desperately want to visit, and I know I’ll never get the chance, so you can go in my place. It has everything you’re looking for, especially scenery.