Europe attractions

Set south of Seville’s historic center, this large green space was once the private garden of the nearby Palace of San Telmo before it was given over for public use in 1893. The park is crisscrossed by tree-lined avenues and dotted with fountains, and is also home to Plaza de España, an extravagant plaza built for the 1989 world’s fair.

Located in central Oxford in a complex of historic buildings, the venerable Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It’s the main research library for the University of Oxford and also a copyright library, housing every book printed in the UK and Ireland, a collection of more than 12 million printed items.

One of Madrid’s most picturesque and popular markets, San Miguel Market (Mercado de San Miguel) is also the city’s oldest. Built in 1916 and recognizable for its wrought-iron and glass facade, the market now houses tapas restaurants, wine bars, bakeries, and other tempting eateries.

Part of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center, Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell) enjoys a rich royal history, as well as a place in movie legend: it was one of the filming sites forThe Sound of Music. Built by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich in 1606, the palace is most famous for its magnificent baroque gardens.

A favorite filming location for movie and TV productions, medieval Doune Castle has appeared inMonty Python and the Holy Grail,Game of Thrones, andOutlander. Built for the Duke of Albany in the 14th century, the castle—now semi-ruined—has welcomed such illustrious guests as Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charles.

A grand two-story facade adorned with statues of the four Virtues makes the Library of Celsus the most photographed and best-known monument in the Ephesus UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in AD 110 to honor Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, it once held 12,000 scrolls, making it one of the largest libraries in the ancient world.

Vajdahunyad Castle is a picturesque attraction nestled in Budapest's City Park (Városliget). Originally built in 1896 for Hungary's millennial festivities, the architecturally diverse complex includes the city's agricultural museum inside the palace. Wander the lovely grounds, or stop by museum exhibits on hunting, forestry, and wine.

Extending from Piaţa Victoriei in the north of Bucharest down to the Dâmbovița River, the 1.8-mile (3-kilometer long Victoriei Street (Calea Victoriei is the city’s main artery. The wide road is lined with landmarks, from communist-era blocks to museums and historic houses, churches, and monuments.

The best way to see the sprawling city of Istanbul is from above, and Camlica Hill (Camlica Tepesi) is one of the prime places to take in that view. Located near the Uskudar neighborhood on the city’s Asian side, the hill—which comprises two peaks, Big Camlica and Little Camlica—is home to tea gardens and green lawns that attract local picnickers.

Budapest’s largest indoor market is a hub of activity, with hundreds of stalls spread over three floors. Housed in a striking 19th-century building, it’s a place where local chefs shop for fresh produce, tourists haggle over traditional handicrafts, and the upstairs food court serves delicious Hungarian cuisine.

Of all the French capital’s many charming neighborhoods, Saint-Germain-des-Prés may be the most quintessentially Parisian. Its perfectly manicured Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg), centuries-old structures such as the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and intellectual haunts including Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore—where Hemingway, Sartre, Picasso, and Simone de Beauvoir frequented—are just a few of the things that have lured people to the artsy district for decades.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Bucharest behind for the day and step into the captivating history and bleak legends of Curtea de Arges Monastery, a hidden gem in Romania's rich cultural tapestry. This 16th-century marvel seamlessly weaves Byzantine and Wallachian architecture and is the perfect destination for history enthusiasts.

Almost entirely destroyed during WWII, Warsaw’s historic Warsaw Old Town (Stare Miasto) underwent an extensive restoration that transformed the area into a vibrant riverfront hub. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the neighborhood boasts striking recreations of 17th- and 18th-century structures, as well as the Warsaw History Museum.

Perched on its very own islet, surrounded by rugged hills and reflective sea lochs, Eilean Donan Castle is among Scotland’s most photographed sights and one of the Scottish Highlands’ most visited attractions. The castle you see today, featuring a bridge linking it to the mainland, is the fourth incarnation of a fortress dating back to the 13th century. It is a popular destination for weddings and tours alike.

Just north of popular Épernay, Hautvillers at first may seem like just another village in the countryside. But for true fans of sparkling wine, it’s a pilgrimage destination—as the birthplace of champagne. The town's Saint-Pierre Abbey is where Dom Pérignon first made the bubbly elixir; the abbey is now owned by Moët & Chandon.

Pico do Arieiro is a mountain on the island of Madeira, off the coast of Portugal. At 5,965 feet (1,818 meters), it’s the island’s third highest peak and one of its most popular tourist attractions, thanks to incredible views from the summit and challenging hiking trails.

Built in the 14th century, the Isa Bey Mosque is an architectural wonder located near the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye). The mosque boasts a unique asymmetrical design and striking details like intricate carvings and calligraphy inscriptions on the western facade, green and turquoise tiles adorning the interior, a preserved brick minaret on the north side, and two impressive domes at the center. The mosque showcases the Selcuk style of architecture rather than the more common Ottoman style that emerged in subsequent years, and is a must-visit for anyone interested in design or history.

One of Lisbon’s most elegant thoroughfares, Avenida da Liberdade is home to high-end hotels, designer shops, and a wide pedestrian strip with benches and coffee kiosks for taking in the scenery. While the avenue is popular among the luxury crowd, it’s a destination for more than just shopping—it runs between two of the city’s most important squares, with monuments, museums, and mosaic artwork along the way.

With their imposing watchtowers looming over the medieval city and dramatic fortifications edging the sea cliffs, the Dubrovnik Ancient City Walls deserve their star-attraction status. Dating back to the 10th century, the remarkably preserved walls mark the perimeter of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offer magnificent views across the city.

The Clava Cairns—or the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Balnuaran of Clava—are all that remains of what was once a much larger Bronze Age burial complex. Dating back 4,000 years, the evocative cemetery site retains original features, including passage graves, standing stones, and ring cairns (stone circles).

Volendam offers a glimpse into the Netherlands’ past. Here, colorful wooden houses surround a boat-filled harbor, and locals wear traditional Dutch clogs, aprons, and bonnets. Once a source of inspiration for artists such as Picasso and Renoir, the village now draws visitors for its locally made cheese, fresh seafood, and historic atmosphere. It’s also just a ferry ride away from the scenic island of Marken.

One of the most important churches in southern Italy, the impressive Naples Cathedral (Duomo di San Gennaro) was commissioned in the 13th century by King Charles I of Anjou and completed in the 14th century under Robert of Anjou. The Gothic cathedral was built on and around the paleo-Christian Basilica di Santa Restituta and is dedicated to the city's patron saint, St. Januarius. The duomo sits above fascinating catacombs containing archaeological remains of ancient Greek, Roman, and early Christian civilizations.

Just an hour from Prague, Kutná Hora is a medieval city with a fascinating history. Most travelers head there to see the Sedlec Ossuary, a Roman Catholic chapel decorated with bones that’s known, fittingly, as the Bone Church. However, Kutná Hora’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed Old Town is also worth a look, particularly the Gothic St. Barbara’s Cathedral and the Italian Court, a former royal mint.

The Changing of the Guard is a centuries-old tradition that marks the official shift change of the Household Regiment, or the King’s Guards. One of the world’s most famous ceremonies—and a top London experience—this recurring event gives visitors the chance to witness the grandeur of a royal march up close. Dressed in their iconic red suits and bearskin hats, the guards perfectly exemplify British pomp.

Olhão is a beautiful and very popular seaside tourist town in the Algarve region of Portugal. The biggest fishing port in the area, the town is a summer vacation destination for those looking for great seafood, wide beaches, and sunny weather.

Built between 1886 and 1888, the Romanian Athenaeum is one of Bucharest’s preeminent cultural venues. Classical concerts are held in its 800-seat auditorium, which is renowned for its excellent acoustics, though the concert hall is as much worth a visit for its elegant architecture and interiors as it is for its musical offerings.

Few places showcase the Netherlands’ iconic tulips better than Keukenhof Gardens, a colorful sea of flowers with millions of new bulbs planted every year. An easy day trip from Amsterdam, the gardens are perfect for leisurely strolls and snapping photos of flowers in bloom. It’s a Holland tradition that attracts visitors from around the globe—and one you certainly won’t want to miss.

Bebelplatz, a public square and memorial site in Berlin, is famous for being the site of the first Nazi book-burning event in 1933. During that period, students affiliated with the Nazi Party ignited a bonfire that consumed 20,000 works deemed treasonous, including writings by prominent authors such as Bertolt Brecht, Karl Marx, and Thomas Mann.

Standing 3,694 feet (1,126 meters) above the southern Polish town of Zakopane, Mt. Gubalowka (Gubałówka) is one of the region’s most popular year-round attractions. Take in excellent views of the surrounding Tatra Mountains while participating in a variety of outdoor activities.

La Boqueria Market (Mercat de la Boqueria) is Barcelona’s busiest food market, with a massive building along La Rambla. More than 200 stalls, some of which have been around since its opening in 1840, range from family produce vendors to full-fledged restaurants. Whether you’re sourcing ingredients for the perfect paella or tracking down the best slice of Iberico ham in town, few experiences are as quintessentially Barcelona as shopping and dining at La Boqueria.