Europe attractions

A branch of the Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms are set in the secret bunker where Winston Churchill led the country during World War II. Situated beneath street level in London’s Westminster district, the Cabinet War Rooms were constructed shortly before the war’s outbreak. Today, the underground complex is a museum documenting the United Kingdom’s wartime government.

Crossing the nerve-racking Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a feat for the sure-footed: the narrow 66-foot-long (20-meter-long) swinging span is suspended high above the choppy Atlantic waters, connecting the Northern Irish mainland to Carrick-a-Rede Island. Originally built more than 300 years ago by salmon fishermen—and since rebuilt with sturdier materials—the National Trust-managed footbridge is now traversed by wobbly-kneed travelers who visit to soak up the rugged coastal scenery.

Nestled between Soho, St. James’s, and the West End, Leicester Square is the intersection that never sleeps. Home to world-famous movie theaters, nightclubs, and shops, the square attracts millions of visitors each week. Here you’ll find a fountain dedicated to William Shakespeare at its center, and numerous shopping and dining options lining its sides.

It may not have an ornate marble facade like the neighboring Duomo, but the Basilica of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo) is one of the oldest and most important Renaissance churches in Florence. Commissioned by Cosimo the Elder—patriarch of the Medici dynasty—the church is home to magnificent sculptural and architectural works by Michelangelo, including the Medici Chapels and Laurentian Library.

The late-19th century Rudolfinum is a classical music theater on the east bank of Prague’s Vltava River, located at Jan Palach Square. It’s neo-classical in design, and is the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. As well as admiring the architecture from the outside, visitors can attend a performance or take a guided tour.

Visitors flock to Pisa’s famous leaning tower, which is part of a magnificent cathedral complex centered around the 17th-century Duomo and adjacent baptistery. A splendid example of Pisan Romanesque architecture, the Duomo’s original and renovated elements include a splendid apse mosaic, ornate pulpit, golden coffered ceiling, and more.

Ringed with bustling cafes and elegant Baroque-style buildings, Piazza delle Erbe (or market square has been the home of Verona’s main market since ancient Roman times. Today, visitors still come to browse the market tables stacked high with regional produce, olive oil, and wine; or just enjoy a traditional Italian espresso while enjoying the sounds of the open-air market.

Senate Square (Senaatintori) symbolizes the cultural heart of Helsinki. Among the many landmarks surrounding the square are the Government Palace, National Library, Lutheran Cathedral, City Museum, and Helsinki’s oldest building, which make Senate Square an essential stop on any first-time visitor’s itinerary.

Sitting on a mountain cliff overlooking the Arges River, the Poenari Castle (Cetatea Poenari) is best known for its connection to Vlad the Impaler, said to be the inspiration for the fictional Dracula. Now partially in ruins, the castle was first built in the 13th century and came under Vlad the Impaler’s control in the 15th century. Legend has it that Vlad’s first wife committed suicide rather than be taken hostage by the Ottoman Turks. She allegedly threw herself off one of the castle walls into the river below, turning the water red. The river is now referred to as the Lady’s River. The castle was eventually abandoned and an earthquake in the 19th century destroyed the northern section. It sat in ruins until 1970, when the Romanian government decided to open it to tourists, building more than 1400 steps into the rock of the mountain to allow visitors to climb up to the castle. Walkways and handrails have also been installed to allow for easier movement throughout the ruins.

The tallest church in Tbilisi, the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Tsminda Sameba) is an unmissable feature of the Tbilisi skyline: its golden dome rises out from Elia Hill and is visible from almost any point in the city. The stunning structure is part of a complex that includes a monastery, theology school, and nine chapels (including five underground).

Sometimes translated as Carmo Square, Largo do Carmo is one of the last reminders of the devastating 1755 Lisbon earthquake, as it hosts the remains of the 14th-century Carmo Convent. Today the Gothic-style ruins hold the Carmo Archaeological Museum. A monumental drinking fountain and jacaranda trees add even more charm to the cobbled square, which you can reach by the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa).

The Manavgat River runs down from the Taurus Mountains all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, and it’s most scenic spot is the Manavgat Waterfall (Manavgat Şelalesi). Just outside of Side, the low, wide falls make a stunning backdrop for photos and serve as a popular recreation area, with visitors coming to swim, picnic, or cruise along the river.

The Great Barbican is a 15th-century, 7-turreted bastion in Krakow that once protected the city’s main gate—St. Florian’s Gate—and the Old Town within it. One of the few remnants of Krakow’s fortifications, the barbican consists of a small museum, medieval passageways, and a courtyard that hosts summer events such as jousting and pageants.

One of Denmark’s most beloved icons, the Little Mermaid first appeared in Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairytale and achieved even wider recognition with Disney’s 1989 animated adaptation. A statue of the character by artist Edvard Eriksen looks out over Copenhagen’s harbor, and is among the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

Place du Tertre is among the oldest and most important squares in Paris’ bohemian Montmartre neighborhood. Set just steps from Sacré-Coeur Basilica—close to where artists such as Picasso and Modigliani once lived and worked—the square bustles with buskers and street artists selling their wares. Naturally, its many sidewalk cafés are some of the best places to soak up Montmartre’s creative energy.

The Italian name of Isola Bella contains both a truth and a misnomer: although worthy of being called beautiful, this tiny rocky outcrop along Sicily’s east coast is not actually an island. Located just offshore from the beach of the same name, Isola Bella is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand covered with water at high tide. Wait for low tide to walk across, or visit on a boat cruise.

Elaborately adorned rooms and royal art collections define the Munich Residence, the former royal palace of the Bavarian Monarch. This landmark is the largest city palace in Germany, containing museum displays spread across 130 rooms, including collections of porcelain, silver, antiquities, and paintings.

A masterpiece of Renaissance revival architecture and one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) adds to the city’s grand scenery and cultural legacy. The building’s facade, lined with statues and topped with pegasus sculptures, is a favorite of photographers, while fans of the arts come for its busy schedule of opera, ballet, and chamber music.

Venice is made up of over 100 small islands, but “the Venice islands” generally refer to the three most famous in the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Murano, just north of Venice proper, is known for its glassblowing workshops. Further north, Burano has canals lined with brightly painted fishermen’s houses and is home to traditional lace artisans. Its neighboring island of Torcello is believed to be the first populated island in the Venetian lagoon.

One of Barcelona’s most impressive architectural feats, the Palace of Catalan Music (Palau de la Música Catalana) is renowned for its spectacularly ornate interiors. In fact, its design is so impressive that it’s one of the few concert halls in the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1908 by Catalan art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the venue hosts a range of traditional Catalan folk music performances.

The imposing Berlin Cathedral dominates the eastern end of Unter den Linden and Museum Island. With its three copper-roofed domes and richly decorated interior with gilded decorations, Berliner Dom (as it’s called in German) is one of the few landmark buildings in the area that was not destroyed in World War II.

As poignant as it is beautiful, Venice’s white limestone Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) spans the Rio di Palazzo canal between the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the New Prisons just opposite. One of the Floating City’s most famous bridges, the 17th-century landmark is most striking when viewed from outside, but inside, its small windows offer unique glimpses of the city—just as convicts passing over the bridge once saw it.

The Duden Waterfalls sit at the end of the river of the same name, which winds its way through the Taurus Mountains before tumbling from a cliff into a valley next to the Mediterranean. The falls consist of two cascades, and the upper part is nearly 50 feet (15 meters) tall and 65 feet (20 meters) wide.

Nestled in the Danube River, Margaret Island (Margit-sziget) is an oasis in Hungary’s capital of Budapest. This verdant park is packed with attractions, including a pool, a spa, playgrounds, and a Japanese garden. When the sun is shining, locals and tourists picnic on the island’s green lawns and, in summer, listen to free concerts.

Hamburg really capitalizes on its waterside location with the Speicherstadt, or Warehouse District. Not only will you marvel at the impressive red-brick architecture and canal network within the world’s largest warehouse complex, but several buildings have been converted into museums and attractions that bring the area’s rich history to life.

A scenic hub from which to discover the UNESCO-listed Châteaux of the Loire Valley, historic Amboise is also well worth exploring. The market town was once frequented by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Joan of Arc, and is best known for its own castle—the Château d’Amboise, former home of King Francis I.

Named after an Albanian nobleman who once resisted Ottoman invasion, this dizzyingly vast city square marks the heart of Tirana. It’s home to some of the capital’s most popular landmarks, including the Ottoman-era Eth’em Bey Mosque and clock tower, the National History Museum, and the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It’s also the meeting point for numerous Tirana walking tours.

Home to one of the greatest art collections in the United Kingdom—including paintings by Titian, Vincent van Gogh, and Rembrandt—the London National Gallery is among the most popular attractions in the city. With artwork spanning hundreds of years, from the mid-13th century to 1900, the free-to-visit museum stands overlooking Trafalgar Square and is easy to explore as part of a cultural day out in London.

Queen Mary I of Portugal built the ornate Basilica da Estrela, a church and convent, in the late 1700s to honor the birth of her son and sole male heir, Prince Jose. Sadly, Prince Jose died two years before the church was completed. The structure now stands as a memorial to the fallen prince—and houses the tomb of the grief-stricken queen.

An important site in ancient Greece, the Acropolis of Lindos is one of the most important historical monuments on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. Parts of the site were built more than 2,500 years ago, and this remarkably well-preserved ruin draws tourists from all over the world.