Europe attractions

Opened in 1843 in Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens is the second-oldest amusement park in the world and one of the best-known in Europe—it even served as a model for Disneyland®. And nearly two centuries later, the park is still working its magic, with a lively mix of attractions, gardens, and restaurants, and the family-friendly appeal of its quaint charm.

A historically Jewish neighborhood in Istanbul, Balat shows off its roots in two major synagogues, which are still standing. Visitors also head to the Byzantine-era Chora Museum, formerly the Chora Church, to see its mosaics and frescoes. The colorful cafes and shops on the lower streets of Balat attract a big afternoon crowd.

Built in 1077, Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above Salzburg’s Old Town and offers some of the best views of the city. As one of the largest fully preserved castles in Central Europe, it beckons with medieval courtyards, historic state rooms, and lookout towers. Visitors can also explore the museum collections and interactive displays, helping you learn about the lives of prince-archbishops, as well as armor and weaponry.

Experience the raw and mysterious beauty of Cabo Espichel, a rugged southwestern headland in the picturesque Setúbal District. Explore the dramatic, high-rising cliffs that meet the untamed waters of the Atlantic Ocean and immerse yourself in the wind-blown, barren landscape. Surrounded by an isolated and spiritual countryside, Cabo Espichel is a must-visit destination for those seeking an unforgettable adventure.

This large and ornately-decorated Russian Orthodox cathedral is a well-known and picturesque building in Tallinn’s Old Town (Vanalinn). Perched atop Toompea hill, across from Estonian parliament buildings, the onion-domed church is popular amongst visitors and those practicing the Orthodox faith. The church is dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky—the Prince of Novgorod and Russian hero who drove away German invaders in the 13th century.

Taste Ireland’s legendary stout at the source at the Guinness Storehouse, also known as the Guinness Brewery. This landmark is one of the Irish capital’s top attractions, offering a self-guided tour with interactive exhibits and the chance to learn how to pour the perfect pint. The view from the rooftop Gravity Bar over Dublin is reason enough to visit. You may want to elevate the standard visit with a Connoisseur Experience that includes an exclusive tasting.

The unabashed highlight of Hamburg’s Old Town (Altstadt), the opulent Hamburg City Hall (Hamburger Rathaus) is recognizable by its soaring tower, coffered ceiling, and vast scale. The neo-Renaissance landmark on the edge of scenic Alster Lake dates back to 1897, and is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.

Sighișoara’s Clock Tower—the former town council meeting place—was among several towers built between the 13th and 16th centuries to defend the medieval citadel. Shimmering scale-like tiles cover the roof and painted wooden figurines emerge from a niche beside the clock. Inside, there is a small museum and a 360-degree viewing platform.

Behind its comparatively stark Gothic facade, the Church of São Francisco(Igreja de São Francisco) harbors a trove of baroque finery: The interior has marble columns, intricate wooden carvings, and gold-covered walls. Highlights include the magnificent Tree of Jesse altarpiece, a 13th-century statue of Saint Francis, and eerily beautiful catacombs.

Located at the southernmost tip of Portugal’s Algarve, Ria Formosa Natural Park (Parque Natural da Ria Formosa) is a scenic swirl of freshwater lagoons, sandy islands, and lush salt marshlands. The park hugs the coast between Manta Rota and Vale do Lobo, and is best known for its varied topography and diverse bird life.

Built in the mid-19th century, this Gothic-style tower commemorates William Wallace, the medieval Scottish freedom fighter whose story was fictionalized in the 1995 blockbuster, Braveheart. Exhibits chronicle key episodes from Scottish history, while the top offers views of Stirling Castle and the surrounding countryside.

Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset) looms over the Kungsholmen waterfront and is one of the capital’s most impressive landmarks, with a redbrick façade and 328-foot (100-meter) tower topped with the Three Crowns of Sweden. Dating back to 1923, the hall contains elaborate ceremonial chambers which are open to visitors via guided tours.

Lisbon has no shortage of hilltop viewpoints, but the views from the Miradouro da Graça are among the most impressive. Situated atop the Santo André hill by the Graça Church, the shaded plaza looks out over the winding streets and sloping rooftops of the Graça and Alfama neighborhoods, the medieval ruins of the Castelo de São Jorge, and the Tagus River with its distinctive 25th of April Bridge.

St. Florian’s Gate was once the entry point for Krakow’s Old Town in medieval times when the city was surrounded by defensive walls. Many of the city’s fortifications have since been destroyed, but this Gothic gateway remains the only one of eight original gates still standing. So it’s an important photo stop for history lovers and architecture fans alike.

Scotland's Forth Road Bridge is a structural masterpiece set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish landscape. Straddled by the 21st-century Queensland Crossing and the iconic 19th-century railway Forth Bridge, this engineering wonder attracts travelers seeking a harmonious blend of history and modernity.

Centuries before it was rechristened Rembrandt Square in honor of the Dutch painter, this area was better known as Butter Market because of the dairy farmers peddling their products. A cast-iron statue of Rembrandt went up in 1876, and the square got a new name. Today, Rembrandt Square is better known for its nightlife scene than its artistic legacy, with multiple bars, dance clubs, and pubs lining the busy streets.

The Natural History Museum, housed in a grand Victorian-era building, showcases around 80 million specimens—from fossils and minerals to dinosaur bones and taxidermy. It offers engaging, interactive exhibits that appeal to visitors of all ages, plus cafés and gift shops. Highlights include Hintze Hall, featuring meteorites and an 82-foot-long (25-meter) blue whale skeleton, along with the world-famous dinosaur exhibition.

Though Italy is known for its Roman ruins, much of the southern part of the peninsula was part of Magna Grecia, the Greek Empire, long before the Roman conquest. Vivid testimony of this ancient Greek occupation can be found at Paestum, with a trio of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, dating as far back as the sixth century BC.

With a reputation for being one of the most beautiful villages in England (if not the world), Bilbury sets the bar high. Thankfully, the charming Cotswolds village lives up to the hype, so get your camera ready. Set on the tree-lined banks of the River Coln, it’s an artful jumble of stone cottages and gabled rooftops sewn together by winding country lanes.

Chugging past the misty lochs and sweeping glens of the Scottish Highlands, the Jacobite Steam Train offers one of Britain’s greatest railway journeys, taking passengers on a nostalgic train ride between Fort William in Scotland’s West Highlands and Mallaig on the west coast. The 84-mile (135-kilometer) round-trip route passes Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, and the Glenfinnan viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter movies where the train stood in for the fictional Hogwarts Express.

Situated in the heart of the Tiergarten, the Berlin Victory Column (Siegessäule) is a 220-foot (67-meter) statue of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, in battle. Dating back to 1873, it honors Prussia winning the three Wars of Unification. You can climb up to the column’s viewing platform to soak up 360-degree views of Berlin.

Remuh Synagogue may be Krakow’s smallest synagogue, but this cozy 16th-century temple retains its significance as one of Krakow’s primary Jewish places of worship. Situated in the heart of Kazimierz, a highlight of this complex is the neighboring Remuh Cemetery, which is the resting place of many renowned Polish Jews, such as Rabbi Moses Isserles.

The 6th-century Hagia Irene (Aya Irini) was the first church built in Constantinople—and the only one that was not turned into a mosque upon the arrival of the Ottomans. As a result, the original Byzantine architecture still awes. Under its dome and peaked ceilings, the building currently serves as a museum.

Running 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) around the Old Town of Avila, the Walls of Avila are some of Spain’s best-conserved medieval fortifications. UNESCO-listed along with the old town they enclose, the 12th-century walls look much as they would have in the Middle Ages.

The Netherlands’ largest science museum, NEMO Science Museum, features four stories of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments, as well as an ever-popular roof terrace. It is housed in one of the city’s most interesting structures. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the NEMO building looks like a green, copper-clad ship rising out of Amsterdam’s eastern docklands.

Guarding the southwestern corner of Cordoba’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs (Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos) is among the city’s most memorable monuments. The Moorish-style fortress has a history dating back to Roman and Visigoth times, before it was transformed into a Christian palace by Alfonso XI in the 13th century.

Malta’s best-known natural wonder, the Blue Grotto is a cluster of limestone sea caverns whose waters create luminous effects. Tucked into the island’s southeastern coast, the caves’ seas turn a dozen shades of turquoise when sunlight bounces off their limestone walls and central arch, making them dazzlingly photogenic. Visitors can view the caves from a cliffside observation deck or get up close to them on boat trips from the nearby fishing harbor of Wied iz-Zurrieq.

Peaceful and uncrowded, this small active monastery is the antithesis of neighboring Peles Castle, which is usually thronged with visitors. Monks have been living here since the 17th century and the site features two churches—one dating back to 1695 and the other to 1846—with frescos and floral carvings, as well as a small museum.

Explore a piece of Munich’s history with a visit to St. Peter’s Church or Peterskirche, a Roman Catholic church built in the 12th century. The building is known for its Gothic paintings, sculptures, and a ceiling fresco, plus panoramic views from its spire. Colored rings at the lower platform reveal details about the view from the spire; a white ring means the Alps are visible.

Amarante is a medieval town in northern Portugal. On the river Tamega, the town is dominated by a 13th-century church and monastery, and is known for being the home of Sao Goncalo, a Benedictine monk and Portugal’s answer to St. Valentine. Visitors explore the historical town center with its stone bridge and enjoy the charming countryside nearby.