Europe attractions

Head to the Plaza del Mercado to find Valencia’s Central Market—famous across Europe for its huge selection of fresh produce and local specialties including cured meats, seafood, and cheese. You can also take a café break on the square, and see another historic landmark, the Lonja de la Seda.

Italy is famous for its fashion and design, and some of the world’s most popular luxury clothing and home decor brands come from this stylish country. If you love Italian style, visit Tuscany’s Barberino Designer Outlet to shop for designer brands from Italy at a deep discount. Just 30 minutes from Florence, you’ll get all the names you covet for up to 70 percent off.

Built into an 18th-century fortress in Parc Drai Eechelen, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art (Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, or MUDAM) was designed by I. M. Pei, the Chinese-American architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. In addition to housing a robust contemporary art collection, MUDAM offers enticing views of Old Town.

A trio of bridges arching over the canal ways of the River Ill, the Strasbourg Covered Bridges (Ponts Couverts) are an iconic symbol of the city, marking the gateway to its central Grande-Île. A lasting vestige of Strasbourg’s medieval fortifications, the bridges once featured wooden roofs which offered soldiers protection.

Home to one of France’s most outstanding art collections, the Lyon Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon) is often described as the “little Louvre.” Housed in a restored, 17th-century convent, the museum’s collection spans from antiquity to the modern age—so you can explore Egyptian artifacts and Cubist canvases under one roof.

Picturesque Monteriggioni is the quintessential Tuscan village, encircled by medieval walls and perched on a hilltop above a rolling expanse of olive groves and vineyards. Stroll through its postcard-perfect center of cobblestone piazzas, pretty churches, and Renaissance townhouses and enjoy the authentic atmosphere.

The art nouveau-style Pelisor Castle was built at the turn of the 20th century to serve as a summer residence for King Carol I’s nephew and heir, Ferdinand I. Though more modest than Peles Castle, Pelisor does feature touches of opulence such as the gilded thistle-leaf walls of the Golden Room, a nod to Queen Marie’s Scottish heritage.

Delve into Manchester’s inventive and industrial heritage at the Science and Industry Museum. Housed in a building that served as the world’s first passenger railway station, the museum includes a wide collection of vintage vehicles, historical machinery, hands-on exhibitions, and other engaging offerings.

Lecce is home to some of the most magnificent baroque churches in Italy, and the sumptuous Church of Saint Irene (Chiesa di Sant'Irene) is one of the city’s architectural gems. Its facade is a masterpiece of 17th-century stonework, and the twin altarpieces inside, which face each other across the transept, are equally dazzling.

Home to 780,000 objects, Krakow’s National Museum (often abbreviated to MNK) is one of Poland’s biggest museums. It features Polish art from the 20th century, plus military memorabilia and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the Art Nouveau period.

Constructed in the 16th century, Beyazit Mosque (Beyazit Camii) was the second imperial mosque built in Istanbul after the Ottomans conquered the city. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Beyazit II, whose tomb is located on the site. The interior of the mosque and its large central dome were based on the design of the Hagia Sophia.

Llandaff Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian sites in the UK. Built in the 12th century it offers visitors the chance to see a striking example of gothic architecture. It’s a must-visit for fans of historic buildings.

The ancient city of Kaunos, near Dalyan in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), was founded in the 9th century BC, and was located between Lycia and Caria—hence it embodies characteristics of both empires. Though now abandoned, Kaunos was once a flourishing city that served as a bustling trading post on the coast, and its ruins provide a vivid glimpse into the past.

Belching out jets of steam and sulfurous fumes for four millennia, the volcanic crater of Solfatara is a vivid reminder that southern Italy is a hotbed of geothermal activity, giving rise to everything from Ischia’s hot springs and Mt. Vesuvius’s puffing peak. Visit this spot in the Phlegrean Fields to witness its rumblings first-hand.

The Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş Sütunu), located in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district, is a monumental landmark dating back to the 4th century. Built to celebrate the emperor's victory over his rival Maxentius, the column is one of the most significant surviving Roman landmarks in Istanbul and a popular pit stop for travelers visiting the Grand Bazaar.

From training jets to helicopters, the Polish Aviation Museum (Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego) is a little piece of heaven for those interested in international aircraft and aviation. Located on the outskirts of Krakow, the museum puts 200 aircraft on display, both indoors and outside. Especially compelling is the collection of non-Allied and non-NATO aircraft that offers a rare showing of Soviet jets once behind the Iron Curtain.

Shoppers browsing the boutiques along Frankfurt’s main shopping streets, the Zeil and Goethestrasse, often spill over into the Hauptwache; one of the city’s busiest squares. A transport hub at the heart of downtown Frankfurt, the Hauptwache is known for its Baroque Guard-House, now a popular café.

This imposing castle has been in the hands of the Parsons family since it was built in the 17th century. More than 1,000 plant species can be found within its 50-hectare (124-acre estate, while its science center plays host to the Leviathan, a giant telescope designed by 19th-century astronomer and Birr Castle resident, William Parsons.

This intimate St. Martin’s Theatre may be small with a capacity for just 550, but it’s home to the world’s longest-running theater production: The Mousetrap. Agatha Christie’s whodunnit was first staged here in 1974—following an over 20-year run at the neighboring Ambassadors Theatre—and St. Martin’s still hosts the ever-popular production today. While most people associate the venue with The Mousetrap, it often hosts other family-friendly productions by day.

Set amid idyllic Ayrshire countryside in the village of Alloway, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum celebrates the life and work of Scotland’s most famous poet. Though officially called a museum, the site is made up of several different attractions—a museum, a cottage, a church, and a monument, which together form Burns National Heritage Park.

Helsinki’s Ateneum Art Museum (Konstmuseet Ateneum), built in 1887, showcases Finnish paintings and sculptures from the 18th century to the 1950s. There’s also a small collection of 19th- and early 20th-century international art, including a copy of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker and paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne.

"The Islet of Ships," as Skeppsholmen is called in Swedish, is really an emporium of museums. The smallest of Stockholm's islands, Skeppsholme lures savvy travelers away from the more famous Djurgården with a clutch of first-rate museums—the Moderna Museet and Östasiatiska Museet are among them. There's also a historic shipyard where traditional boats are still made.

Take one look at the grand design of Cantacuzino Palace, and you’ll see why it’s regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest. This historical monument was completed in 1903. The George Enescu National Museum was opened in 1956 following the composer’s death, who also lived near the property.

Perched atop a hill in Piran, the Church of St. George is a baroque masterpiece that dates back to the 17th century, adorned inside with frescoes, marble altars, and sculptures. The bell tower, a nod to St. Mark's Campanile in Venice, not only stands as an architectural feat, but also offers panoramic views of Piran and its surroundings.

Amid the bustle of Ermou, Athens’ main shopping street, the Greek Orthodox Church of Panagia Kapnikarea stands out. With a history dating back to the 11th century and the Byzantine era, it’s one of the city’s oldest churches, though the structure has evolved over time. The dazzling frescoes are by Photis Kontoglou, a renowned 20th-century icon painter, or artists from his workshop.

A symbol of unified Germany, the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) is a promontory that remains one of the country’s most recognizable highlights. Located in Koblenz at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, the spit of land is a popular viewpoint, and is dominated by the equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. Today, it has UNESCO World Heritage status.

The grand Myndos Gate (Myndos Kapısı) once guarded the western entrance to the ancient Greek city of Halicarnassus and marked the route to nearby Myndos (now Gümüslük). Now in ruins, the gate is the last trace of the city’s once-mighty fortifications and remains a prominent landmark of modern-day Bodrum.

Delve into the history of Yugoslavia and the charismatic leader who shaped it, Josip Broz Tito, at the House of Flowers in Belgrade. Nestled in a peaceful garden, this mausoleum houses the final resting place of Tito, showcasing a vast collection of his personal items and gifts from foreign dignitaries.

Once a clubhouse for Venetian nobility, the 17th-century Palladian-style Loggia is now home to Heraklion Town Hall. Designed by Francesco Morosini, it is one of the best examples of Venetian architecture in the city. Visitors come to roam its covered walkway and courtyard.

Akyaka is a charming village nestled in Turkey’s Mugla province along Gokova Bay. The town—often overlooked by foreign visitors—is famous for its clear waters, rich culture, and outdoor sports opportunities. It’s the ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful or adventurous getaway without noise or aggressive salespeople.