Europe attractions

Union Square, also called Piața Unirii in Romanian and referred to as Union Park, is a public park and square in central Bucharest. One of the main squares in the city, it’s known for the Bucharest Fountains, which offer a dazzling—and record-breaking—show with music, lights, and 3D projections from May through October.

One of the most unique corners of Ancona, the Grotte del Passetto is a waterfront warren of hundreds of caves dug out of the coastal cliffs by local fishers more than a century ago. Originally used to moor fishing boats and store tackle, today these grottini are used by the builders’ descendants (known as grottaroli) as a summertime base for relaxing and dining along the water.

The crumbling ruins of the City of London’s original Roman wall, which was built around AD 200, can still be found in the modern financial district—if you know where to look. The best-preserved and easiest section of the wall to visit is at Tower Hill, just north of the Tower of London. It’s a popular stop for history buffs looking to photograph the remains or imagine the city’s Roman past.

The handsome 12th-century Aarhus Cathedral (Aarhus Domkirke) is a showstopper, towering above the town with its soaring spires that pierce the sky. Architecture buffs will appreciate this landmark church’s mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, and the 15th-century altarpiece, baptismal font, and frescoes never fail to impress. Visit as part of a city tour or catch one of the frequently scheduled concerts here.

Most visitors know about Germany’s age-old fairy tales and toymaking legacy, but one of the country's best-kept local secrets is its homegrown history of marionette puppetry. The country’s most famous puppet theater is the Augsburger Puppenkiste or Augsburg Puppet Chest, which has entertained German children with its live performances and filmed TV shows since 1948.

Combining both aviation and maritime exhibits, Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum showcases the history of Foyes in the 1930s and ‘40s as the city began commercial transatlantic passenger flights and established itself as an international port. With beautifully built displays, flight simulators, and a flying boat replica, the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum is a must while in County Limerick, Ireland.

The understated Romanesque Church of Santa Maria degli Angioli surprises with its wealth of Renaissance artworks inside. Break up your stroll along Lugano’s lakefront with a stop in this tiny chapel just opposite the promenade to admire the two technicolor 16th-century frescoes by Bernardino Luini: An emotion-filled Last Supper and a dazzling Crucifixion scene covering an entire wall.

The Cross Bath is the ideal place for relaxing and unwinding. A site steeped in history, this ancient bathhouse dates back to the 18th century and has been restored over the years to preserve its architecture. Visitors come here for an open-air bathing experience with private hire possibilities—the perfect peaceful retreat away from the city's attractions.

Beautiful paper mache effigies, known as ninots indultados, fill the rooms inside the Bonfire Museum (Museo de Fogueres), alongside photographs, documents, and costumes from the long-standing Hogueras de Alicante festival. Only a few effigies are spared from the bonfire each year, preserving the most delicately artistic or entertainingly cartoonish, so that museum visitors can admire their designs and learn about the traditions.

Situated near the Belgian village of Vladslo, the Vladslo German War Cemetery is the burial place of 35,644 German soldiers killed during World War One. Founded in 1918, this tree-framed and deeply atmospheric cemetery is a stop on many WWI battlefield tours; serving as a reminder of Germany’s losses during the conflict.

Although it’s now housed in a converted church in London’s Docklands, Brick Lane Music Hall takes its name from its original premises in the heart of the old East End. The community venue’s song-and-supper events are noted for their inclusive atmosphere, whether showcasing Victorian-style music hall shows, Cockney classics, or highlights from modern musicals.

Named for the waterfall at its heart—which stands 196 feet (60 meters) tall and is among the highest in the UK—the Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve is a place of extraordinary natural beauty. Featuring lakes, steep hills, and deep valleys, and home to wildlife from goats to ospreys, it’s a popular outdoor escape in southern Scotland.

Middleham Castle dates back to the 12th century, when it was built by Lord Robert Fitzrandolph. For many years it was home to the aristocratic Neville family, but it is most famous as the childhood home of King Richard III. The castle remained in royal hands until the 17th century, when it began to fall into ruin.

Located on the rugged and less developed west coast of Fuerteventura, Playa de Ajuy (Ajuy Beach) stands out with its obsidian sand and dark blue water. It’s flanked by dramatic volcanic landscapes and backed by the charming fishing village of Ajuy, famous for its seafood and the ancient caves nearby.

King’s Road started life as a private road for King Charles II, which set the tone for the historic nature of this famous London street. Credited as being the epicenter of the Swinging Sixties cultural movement, today the area’s fashion legacy continues with more than 160 luxury brand stores and boutiques.

Red and rosé wines star in this lesser-known wine region north of the medieval city of Carcassonne. The nearby Black Mountains (Montagne Noire) keep the climate relatively cool, and the most popular grape varieties include cabernet, grenache, merlot, and syrah. Many vineyards in the region welcome visitors for tours and tastings.

With more than 30 rides, shows for all ages, and an idyllic setting along the Great Yarmouth coast, Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park is a top destination for a family day out. Home to Wipeout, the region’s biggest rollercoaster, plus plenty to do for less adventurous tots, this landmark amusement park has something for everyone.

The Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA, or Aéroport Paris Beauvais, opened in 1956 and is hub to a handful of budget airlines flying to and from 60 destinations in 21 countries throughout Europe—from Poland to Ireland—as well as North Africa. The airport has two terminals and handles nearly 4.5 million passengers each year.

The white sandy beaches of Fuerteventura’s southern peninsula seem to go on forever, and alongside that pristine coastline is the traditional fishing town of Morro Jable. While exploring the Old Town, you’ll stumble upon pastel homes, rustic architecture, and a homely, historic atmosphere. The narrow streets bring the historic parts of Lisbon or Malaga to mind.

Set along the refurbished Aarhus waterfront, Dokk1 is one of the city’s premier cultural hubs, extending from a library to a concert and theater venue, children’s play areas, and a lounge area for the teens, plus a coffee shop. Here you can fill hours with interactive media and games, storytelling, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and a wide range of cultural events and performances for all ages.

A monumental bronze, La Noblesse du Temps (commonly referred to as the “melting clock” sculpture) is Andorra la Vella’s most important piece of public art and a town landmark. Featuring a deliquescing clock on a dead tree accompanied by a veiled woman and a contemplative angel, it’s unmistakably the work of the surrealist master Salvador Dalí—who hailed from nearby Catalonia.

This chamber tomb in Menorca, dating back to the pre-Talaiotic period around 1200 BC, was discovered in the 1960s, when archaeologists found more than 100 bodies there, buried with jewelry and other artifacts. It’s Menorca’s most important megalithic monument, resembling an upside-down boat assembled from large stone blocks.

Boasting nearly 1,000 years of history, Fontfroide Abbey (Abbaye de Fontfroide) was once one of Europe’s most powerful monasteries. Following its decline, the abbey was restored in the early 20th century by impressionist artist Gustave Fayet. Situated among the dramatic scenery of the Regional Nature Park of the Mediterranean Narbonnaise, Fontfroide Abbey is today a top historical, architectural, and natural attraction.

Site of the birthplace of San Vicente Ferrer—a 15th-century friar and preacher who was later venerated as a saint—the House of San Vicente Ferrer is an essential religious and historical landmark in Valencia. Featuring a chapel and celebrated for its ceramic tiles and other heritage features, it also hosts a well that is said to be miraculous.

Slavín is a monument built as a memorial to fallen WWII Soviet Union soldiers. This tower is the focal point of a site that includes a cemetery with hundreds of gravesites containing thousands of remains. The Slavin memorial was built over a decade after Bratislava’s liberation and is one of the main Soviet-era landmarks in the city.

To catch Alesund’s art scene and cultural history, look no further than this one-two punch: the Jugendstilsenteret and Kunstmuseet KUBE. Through art nouveau at Jugendstilsenteret and contemporary art at Kunstmuseet KUBE, these two world-class institutions walk visitors through the city’s style, one era at a time. And it’s a literal walk—the museums are just steps from each other.

One of Bath’s most charming museums, the Museum of Bath Architecture traces the city’s built history, from the medieval era to the modern day. UNESCO-listed Bath is celebrated for its Georgian architecture, and the museum’s collections provide an ideal primer for exploring, showcasing everything from paintings and artifacts to a 1:500 scale model of the city.

In the center of Bolzano’s main square you’ll find a marble monument to the German medieval bard Walther von der Vogelweide, but the main attractions are the cafés, restaurants, and shops lining the tiny pedestrian roads, and the Gothic cathedral across Piazza della Parrocchia. The piazza is the best place to start your exploration of the old town.

A city park with a small botanic garden, the Bordeaux Public Garden (Jardin Public) is a peaceful escape within a bustling city. Locals head here to walk or jog, bring kids to the playground, or picnic beneath the park’s tall trees. The central pond, where swans and ducks glide by, is a scenic place for a stroll, while the charming Guignol Guérin theater draws families to its long-running puppet show.

Lively bars, fondue restaurants, and souvenir kiosks converge in Zurich’s Niederdorf, a medieval district of cobbled streets that’s part of Zurich’s old town. Busy from morning to late at night, the area attracts a mix of architecture enthusiasts, shoppers, and partygoers, along with a stream of people-watchers who come to see them all in action.