Two favourite European Countries apart from the UK and a reason if you like

Spain has a soft spot in our hearts. Lots to see and explore love the food the people the shops,markets etc.

Ditto for Italy. Such breathtaking scenery, buildings,food etc
I too am happy just sitting looking out to the sea ?
Oh yes Custard tarts ? a big fan in this house too

I have never been to Portugal, sounds like I need to make some plans to visit.

France, especially Brittany where we had many great camping and cycling holidays. I'm attracted to Finland because of the beautiful scenery.

Portugal , agree. custard tarts are delicious . the people are very friendly .and welcoming the beaches are great , and of course the weather .
Italy , scenery. food .wine and the general way of life there .

Madeira and Malta.
I love islands these days. More mangeable in size to visit.

monk08

Portugal for their custard tarts? never quite taste as good elsewhere, but also the people. Also northern Italy ballooning over the Cueno region is sight to behold,with the mountains covered in snow .

Ah yes! The custard tarts.We ate our own body weight of them in Madeira.?

Italy and Spain, in that order.
Have been visiting both countries for many years and we try and stay in as many different regions as possible.
Weather, laid back people, food and scenery.?

Really interesting to hear about places like Slovenia where I’ve never been. I’ve wanted to go to Croatia too for a while. I love Europe and have no desire now to go beyond it but needs must having a son in Australia ?.

Germany, every time. Beautiful countryside, amazing cities, and a public obeying of the rules of good manners that I love.

I couldn't think of another until I noticed the OP mentioning Russia - I've just only seen St. Petersburg in the post-Soviet era and, for all its stunning buildings I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I had when I'd visited it as Leningrad (and Moscow and Kiev and Yalta) in the 70s USSR - whatever life was like for the inhabitants in those days, it was an amazing place to be a tourist: incredibly safe with fantastic public transport, and a sense of pride.

Republic of Ireland, France (especially all the west coast and the Alps, and the German Rheinland get my votes.

Italy of course! Preferably anywhere round the lakes. I love the people, the food, the scenery, the culture, the whole way of life. France would be second choice because parts of it are really lovely.

I love seeing the votes for Ireland. My family are from the south and we've been there many times. It's stunning.

Denmark is top as that's where my husband came from. Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen with amazing things to see and do, mostly on our bikes ... so many happy memories.
Also love Malta for the weather and interesting history and places to visit.

Oh Greece is lovely, too but we’ve only been once so hard to judge. Also Croatia and Germany, love Bavaria, love Austria, too where we had our honeymoon in the Alps.

Has anyone been to the Greek ski resorts?
We have, but by accident. We came off the ferry at igoumenitsa
( pre sat nav days) at 3 in the morning and took the wrong road.
That was an interesting trip ?

Oh and The Greek Islands, in particular Santorini.

Italy. Particularly Venice where we're lucky enough to have been several times and the breathtaking Amalfi coast.
Spain, especially Seville.

Spain is far and away my choice. I completely agree with Urmstongrans views. I love the Spanish and their open and welcoming attitude to incomers. My late DH and I wintered there for 20 years, towing a caravan down every autumn. Our neighbours on the campsite were the same every year and became our winter friends. After our long stay we would carry on to explore a new part of Spain, so much of interest everywhere. Yes, it has so much more than sea and sun. After the Brexit vote, I very nearly decided to emigrate. Only my age made me think that unwise but I still sometimes regret that decision.
As for the second, that’s really difficult. We often spent autumn in different parts of France, such a wonderful country in many ways. But I have also come to love Norway..fantastic scenery and very pleasant people. I’m not deciding between them!

It so difficult to choose just two.
Greece/Greek Islands - the history, the food, the beautiful little towns and villages, the people
Italy - similar reasons, the food, the people, the views, the history
But also Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Croatia, Sweden, and others. All mainly loved for scenery, history, and food.

Greek Islands so many of them went there years ago beautiful lovely people. The Algarve again stunning scenery and people. I love Italy too!
Closer to home Southern Ireland going on a tour cancelled from last year. I love the people so warm and friendly and the scenery.

Haven’t we been fortunate in the past to have had such easy access to the rest of Europe.

I’m an Irish citizen and adore the natural beauty of Ireland, deserted beaches, castles and lakes, I cannot wait to be back in August?having a glass of something in front of a peat fire after a long walk.

Italy for the food, wine and hospitality.

Greece as nobody does an hotel like Ikos and would love a weeks 5 star pampering.

France for the food,wine, amazing markets and dear French friends who always make us so welcome.

Slovenia, it’s just so breathtaking, the only European country I have been to where everyone looks healthy and affluent, the whole place is clean, efficient and the scenery is stunning.

Finally, I have adored our trips to Tavira in Portugal and agree with monk08 that the little Pata de Nata custard tarts are heavenly.

Italy for sure - it’s all been said. We’ve been so many times and nowhere’s disappointed.

Then I think I’d choose Poland, for the people, the food, and the history. Our first trip was to Warsaw, which was a desolate place in 1974. Thankfully it didn’t put us off going to Krakow much more recently. Visiting Auschwitz and the Salt Mines in a freezing cold February was so memorable - and I saw a pack of wolves streaking across the fields! We followed this up with stays in Gdańsk and Wroclaw, both so interesting.

France, food, language, friendliness, family and easy access and the amazing Viaduc de Millau.
Portugal-same as France, plus scenery and weather but no family there. Not so keen on their forest fires though. We were once staying in a villa between two of them and it was scary! Definitely for their pastel de nata monk08. Lidl sell them here, but they just aren’t the same.
I love the Netherlands, but the weather is no better than here.
I’d have put New Zealand second if you hadn’t limited it to Europe for amazing scenery and great climate.

Italy has it all, I am in love with it! For all the reasons others have given. I also love Greece, so many islands to visit and each unique. I also liked Albania, very wild in parts and the people were so friendly. I used to work with a young Albanian man, and he was pretty unique too and gave me some insights into the culture.

Austria for the mountains and the Sound of Music. I can't stop singing when there.

France for food and wine, and where I fell in love with a native.