Europe attractions

The mosaic-filled Monreale Cathedral (Duomo di Monreale) is both one of Italy’s most impressive masterpieces of medieval architecture and one of Sicily’s finest examples of Norman design. The triumph of Norman, Arab, Byzantine and classical elements was built by William II in 1184, and continues to dazzle visitors almost 1,000 years later.

An alternative-fashion mecca in the Swinging Sixties, Carnaby Street was frequented by famous figures ranging from models and musicians to punk rockers and fashion designers. Today, Carnaby Street blends its counterculture heritage with modern flair that’s a world away from the more commercial brands of nearby Oxford Street. Its imitable mix of super-chic stores, eateries, and outdoor art means it’s still one of central London’s coolest shopping destinations.

Standing sentinel over Zagreb’s historic Gornji Grad (Upper Town, Lotrščak Tower dates back to the 13th century and has been used as a defense tower, prison, warehouse, fire station, and even a billiards club over the years. Today, most visitors scale the tower’s spiral staircase for 360-degree views over St. Mark’s Church and the red roofs of Zagreb.

In a city filled with elegant squares fit for royalty, this handsome piazza behind Campo de’ Fiori stands out. It’s home to the grand Farnese Palace (Palazzo Farnese)—now the French Embassy—additional noble palaces and two striking fountains decorated with lilies, the symbol of the Farnese family for whom the piazza and palace are named.

Melk Abbey (Stift Melk) looks more like a palace than a monastery, thanks to its ornate facade and grand church towers set against the backdrop of the Wachau Valley and the Danube River. Founded in 1089, the Benedictine abbey underwent a dramatic makeover in the 18th century and is now regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful baroque churches. A visit to this monastery is a must for history buffs and architecture lovers.

Known for being one of the world’s oldest licensed distilleries, Bushmills was first granted its whiskey-producing license back in 1608. Distillers used malted Irish barley, grains and water from St. Columb’s Rill to produce their oak-aged Bushmills Original and their Black Bush blend. Come here for a behind-the-scenes look at the distilling process plus the highlight of the tour—a tasting session of some of the distillery’s famed Irish whiskeys.

Copenhagen’s Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot) is a Danish palace built in the early 17th century in the Dutch Renaissance style—typical of Danish buildings of the time—by architectural innovator King Christian IV. Originally the king’s summer home, today the castle contains a museum exhibiting the Royal Collections, impressive heirlooms representing the span of royal Danish culture from the late 16th to 19th centuries.

The Neapolis Archaeological Park (Parco Archeologico della Neapolis) is home to many of Syracuse’s most important Greek and Roman ruins, including the Greek Theater dating from the fifth century BC, a third-century-BC sacrificial altar, second-century Roman amphitheater, and a limestone quarry that provided stone for the ancient city.

After King James I (Jaume 1) conquered the Balearic Islands in 1229, he began the conversion of a Moorish-era mosque in present-day Palma de Mallorca (Majorca) into a grand Catalan Gothic-style cathedral overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The golden sandstone façade, the city’s most notable landmark, took more than 400 years to complete.

The enormous Trajan’s Column (Colonna di Traiano), located near Quirinal Hill, was built in the second century to commemorate Emperor Trajan’s victory over the Dacians, and it now stands proudly over the ruins of Trajan’s Forum. One of the most intricate ancient landmarks in Rome, the triumphal column is decorated with bas-relief carvings that constitute a diary of battle scenes, a fascinating cipher to its visitors.

The Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) was the first and most important Imperial Roman road, stretching from Rome to Brindisi. The cobblestone road—built in the 4th century BC to transport supplies and soldiers to strategic points throughout the empire—still exists today, lined with archaeological sites and impressive ruins. Do as the Romans once did and venture beyond the defensive Aurelian Walls (Mure Aureliane) to see the Appian Way’s ancient aqueducts and catacomb-filled countryside.

Rising up over the eastern end of Quai des États-Unis, the 300-foot Castle Hill (Colline du Château) affords fantastic views over the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Old Town of Vieux Nice, the Baie des Anges, and the glittering Côte d’Azur.

Though austere from the outside, the interior of the Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) is anything but; it’s decorated with gold, marble, carved panels, gemstones, and azulejo tiles that reflect the wealth and power of the Jesuits who built it. A museum attached to the church houses religious art and relics, and was one of the country’s first fine art museums when it opened in 1905.

Built in the 4th century as a retirement complex for the Roman Emperor Diocletian, this vast, fortress-like compound still dominates Split Old Town—in fact, it’s one of the grandest ancient Roman structures still standing. Within the 220 Roman-era buildings that make up Diocletian's Palace are now homes, shops, bars, and other businesses, alongside well-preserved historical highlights such as the Cathedral of St. Dominus and the Temple of Jupiter.

The heart of ancient Prague, Old Town—or Staré Město in Czech—is one of the city’s most visited areas, home to sites such as the astronomical clock and the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. It’s also a popular starting point for walking tours of the city. Many visitors spend at least half a day exploring the many treasures of Staré Město.

One of the largest urban parks in Spain, the Turia Riverbed Gardens (Jardí del Túria) stretches 6 miles (9 kilometers) across central Valencia. Built on the former Túria riverbed, diverted to prevent flooding, this green lung now boasts miles of cycling and walking trails, lush gardens, fountains, and other scenic features.

With its checkerboard paving stones and elegant palms, Massena Square is the heart of Nice, hosting events from summer festivals to a Christmas village. It’s also a focal point of the 29-acre (12-hectare) Paillon Promenade, which offers green space near some of the top attractions in Nice’s old town.

Castel dell’Ovo, the imposing fortified castle on the island of Megaride in the Bay of Naples, is one of Naples’ most famous monuments. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, the castle—home to the Museum of Ethno-Prehistory—offers sweeping views over the city and Mount Vesuvius in the distance.

Golden Lane (Zlata Ulicka) runs along the northern wall of Prague Castle and is one of the most famous and picturesque streets in the city. The lane and its miniature houses were built in the 15th century for castle guards but later housed artists and writers, including Franz Kafka.

The Powder Tower (Prasná Brána) is one of Prague’s last remaining city gates. It once formed part of the defensive walls that surrounded the city and was one of 13 gates that allowed people to pass in and out of the center. Visit to climb to the top of the tower and enjoy views over the surrounding area.

Trajan’s Market (Mercati di Traiano) was ancient Rome’s version of the modern-day shopping mall, but it also housed offices for the Imperial Forum. Today, it hosts the Museum of the Imperial Forums (Museo dei Fori Imperiali), which features exhibits on ancient architecture and the many ruins of central Rome. This vast, layered semicircle is one of the most interesting areas of Rome’s Imperial Forums, offering insight into ancient Roman urban planning and everyday life.

The Rock of Gibraltar is aptly named: it’s a huge hulk of limestone that stands sentry over the Strait of Gibraltar, almost entirely eclipsing the small city below. For visitors to Gibraltar, “The Rock” is the undisputed highlight, and it’s much more than just a viewpoint. Several hiking trails and attractions are encompassed within the clifftop Upper Rock Nature Reserve, where wild Barbary macaques roam free.

If one structure embodies the resilience of Renaissance humanism, it is this 16th-century bridge in the heart of Florence. All but destroyed by retreating Nazis during World War II, the Ponte Santa Trinita was painstakingly rebuilt with original stones salvaged from the Arno River. Ponte Santa Trinita is often overshadowed by Ponte Vecchio, just downriver; however, its elegant elliptical arches and dramatic history make it one of Florence’s most beloved landmarks.

Money was no object when King João V commissioned the National Palace of Mafra (Palácio Nacional de Mafra) in 1717. One of the largest monuments in Europe, the baroque complex includes a royal palace, convent, library, and basilica across a whopping 1,200 rooms. Imagine how the Portuguese elite lived—and admire the Italian sculptures, French paintings, and Belgian carillons they collected—while touring this over-the-top estate.

Now the UNESCO-recognized centerpiece of Alcobaça, the 12th-century Alcobaça Monastery (Mosteiro de Alcobaça) was one of Portugal’s first Gothic buildings. Highlights include the elaborately tiled Hall of Kings and the stark and simple nave—the longest in Portugal—while the transept houses the tombs of several Portuguese monarchs.

Perched on eastern Valletta’s harbor walls, Upper Barrakka Gardens is one of the city’s top attractions. Created in 1661, the shaded gardens center on a fountain, statues, and colonnaded terraces that command views over Malta’s Grand Harbour.

Oslo’s neoclassical Royal Palace was designed by architect Hans Linstow and built in the early 19th century for King Charles III, who reigned over a united Norway and Sweden. Today it is the official city residence of King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja, and is open during the summer for guided tours of some of its 173 palatial rooms.

The Fife village of Culross is easily recognizable for its appearances in the TV series Outlander, but is much more than just a pretty backdrop. Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, Culross (pronounced “coo-riss”) is one of Scotland’s best-preserved 17th-century royal burghs, with a timeless atmosphere that offers a glimpse into the past.

Dating back to medieval times, Glasgow Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral on Scotland’s mainland to have survived the Reformation almost fully intact. A magnificent Gothic construction, it features stained-glass windows, a 15th-century stone choir screen, and the tomb of St. Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint.

Nicknamed the “lasagna church” due to its layered history, Rome’s Basilica of San Clemente offers wonders above and below ground. The interior of the 12th-century church is richly decorated with Cosmatesque mosaics considered among Italy’s best. Below the surface are two levels of ancient ruins, including a fourth-century basilica with medieval frescoes, a Mithraic temple, and the remains of an imperial Roman mint.