Europe attractions

Few landmarks in Portugal are as closely tied to the nation’s birth as Braga Cathedral (Sé de Braga). Not only was this cathedral built before the founding of Portugal, but it also holds the tombs of many family members of the country’s first king. History isn’t the only reason that this central cathedral is a Braga highlight: it offers a unique mix of architectural styles, stunningly ornate twin organs, and a museum full of significant religious treasures.

Barcelona’s Passeig De Gràcia is home to some of the city’s most impressive feats of architecture, but none are as emblematic of Catalan modernism as the Casa Amatller. Built by Josep Puig i Cadafalch for renowned chocolatier Antoni Amatller, the 19th-century structure blends Flemish and Catalan styles to impressive effect. Now a period museum, it’s filled with original furnishings, photographs, and architectural drawings.

With narrow cobblestone streets, red tiled roofs, and gorgeous medieval squares, Upper Town (Gornji Grad) is Zagreb’s historic district and most picturesque part. Many of the city’s most visited tourist attractions are here, including the Stone Gate, Zagreb Cathedral, and the Bloody Bridge.

Naples’ Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale di Napoli) is a stellar reminder of this city’s royal history. Construction began in the 1600s when Spain’s Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro ruled Naples, and the site was designed by Renaissance architect Domenico Fontana. Today, visitors can enter to take the soaring double staircase up to the royal apartments decorated by architect Gaetano Genovese.

Spanning 20 square miles (51 square km) of southern Lanzarote, Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) is a unique and eerie landscape of dormant volcanoes and lava fields. Visitors flock to the park from nearby beach towns to explore the otherworldly terrain that looks more like the moon than the Canary Islands.

Surrounded by palaces, museums, and arcades, Piazza Castello is the historic center and main square of Turin. The vast square is home to impressive landmarks, such as Palazzo Madama and the Royal Palace. It’s also got plenty of cafés and boutiques beneath the city’s famous porticoes. Whether you’re sightseeing, shopping, or stopping for a quick espresso, it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon in the city.

Established in 1682, Old Spitalfields Market is a historic marketplace that is still bustling today. The covered space is filled with stalls offering a mix of unique, locally designed goods, imported wares, vintage clothes, handmade jewelry, and all manner of quirky items. It’s also home to several permanent restaurants serving everything from cocktails to international cuisine, and a variety of street food stalls.

Looming over the waterfront, Thessaloniki’s 15th-century White Tower (Lefkós Pýrgos) is one of the city’s most famous attractions and the star of sightseeing tours. This imposing tower was originally built by the Ottomans as part of the city’s fortifications and was later used by Turkish invaders for public executions.

Dating back to 800 AD, the illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels known as the Book of Kells is renowned for its extraordinary illustrations and ornamentations. Its intricate drawings, incorporating Celtic and Christian traditions, are a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of the medieval monks believed to have created it. Despite Viking raids, theft, and fights between various Irish and English factions, 680 astonishingly detailed vellum (calf-skin) pages of Latin text remain intact.

The medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of iconic wordsmith William Shakespeare. Visitors can follow in the literary giant’s footsteps by exploring some of his homes and gardens—there are five in town, each offering a fascinating insight into Shakespeare’s life and works.

With its imposing brick façade, 177-foot (54-meter) bell tower, and magnificent rose window—inspired by Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral—the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi is one of the most notable landmarks of the Gothic Quarter. Built in the 1300s, it’s one of Barcelona’s oldest churches and remains an important center of worship as well as a striking example of Catalan Gothic style.

An excursion to see the Wicklow Mountains—a destination for dramatic Irish landscapes—is a popular day trip from Dublin. Low mountains, serene lakes, and deep glacial valleys offer the chance to fish, kayak, hike, picnic, and more, while waterfalls, country pubs, and a 6th-century monastic site add to the charm. Film buffs travel here to see backdrops from favorite movies like Braveheart.

A honeycomb of narrow streets dotted with baroque churches, lively markets, bustling squares, and a thriving nightlife scene, Nice’s Old Town (Vieux Nice) remains the buzzing heart the modern French city. This seafront historic center offers an atmospheric introduction to Nice.

The energetic city of Naples can be daunting, with its warren of scooter-clogged streets and lanes teeming with open-air vendors that stretch from the bay to Mt. Vesuvius. Luckily, you can enjoy the best of what Naples has to offer by simply concentrating on the UNESCO-listed historic center, one of the most captivating in Italy.

Rotterdam’s bold Central Station (Centraal Station) is a showstopper and fitting introduction for arriving visitors to the city’s famously edgy architecture. Renovated in 2014, the midcentury station stands out for its unique design with a glass-fronted facade topped by a futuristic stainless-steel roof that soars high above the building.

Flanked by red marble columns and featuring a grandiose sculpture of the archangel Michael reigning triumphantly over the devil, the Fontaine Saint-Michel is one of the most notable landmarks of Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). Built during the Second Empire, the fountain’s bronze centerpiece is inspired by the Raphael painting Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan, which is on display across the river in the Louvre.

The Old Synagogue (also referred to as the Stara Synagogue) stands out as Poland’s oldest surviving synagogue. Originally built in the 15th century, it has been reconstructed over the years after it was damaged during World War II. Now, it’s been transformed into a branch of the Historical Museum of Krakow, and it hosts exhibits about the city’s Jewish community.

Located on London’s vibrant South Bank, SEA LIFE® London Aquarium features 14 themed zones, a tunnel where sea turtles and sharks swim overhead, a polar zone home to gentoo penguins, and a coral reef display filled with colorful inhabitants. Star residents include sand tiger sharks, jellyfish, seahorses, and ocellated eagle rays.

More than 100 towers pierced the sky above Bologna in the Middle Ages, but only 20 still stand today. The most famous are the city center’s Two Towers (Due Torri), which lean at a gravity-defying angle that rivals Pisa’s Leaning Tower. Climb to the top of the taller one for fabulous views over the city and surrounding countryside.

Looming over the busy Muntplein (Mint Square) at the meeting point of the Amstel River and the Singel Canal, the Mint Tower (Munttoren) is one of Amsterdam’s most prominent historic landmarks. Originally built in 1487, the tower sits atop the last remaining part of the city’s medieval city wall. In fact, most of the tower seen today was rebuilt in the 17th century, when it briefly served as a royal mint—hence the name.

One of Barcelona’s most dazzling attractions, the Magic Fountain (Font Màgica) was built in 1929 for the city’s World Exhibition. Today, you can watch the fountain’s spectacular illumination displays, which feature music and a kaleidoscope of shimmering lights, all set against the majestic backdrop of Montjuic Castle (Castell de Montjuïc)—a 17th-century fortress perched atop a mountain overlooking the Catalan capital.

Portugal's principal royal residence at the fall of the monarchy, the Ajuda National Palace provides a glimpse into the riches of 19th-century royal life. Set on a hillside overlooking the Belém district, the Neoclassical palace is now a museum of decorative arts, and its ornate rooms are filled with original furnishings, fine art, and lashings of gold. It’s also home to the Royal Treasury Museum.

Trani is an unassuming seaside town on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It was a major maritime power in the Middle Ages—and home to one of the largest Jewish communities in southern Italy. Visit this relaxed city to see the vestiges of its former glory. Highlights include a Romanesque cathedral, the Scolanova Synagogue, and a medieval fort.

Situated on the southern tip of Gran Canaria, the golden sandy beaches, calm waters, and luxurious resorts of Playa del Inglés are hugely popular with tourists. Aside from sunbathing, windsurfing, and volleyball at the beach, the Playa del Inglés area offers lots of shopping and nightlife, as well as family-friendly attractions such as mini-golf, waterparks, and camel rides.

Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is a striking neo-Renaissance building in Mitte, which serves a very special purpose—it houses the mayor’s office and is the seat of the city’s government. The red building is open to the public, so you can access majestic spaces such as the Hall of Arms and the Great Banqueting Room.

Perched below the rugged flank of Mt. Mykale, Priene is one of Turkey’s most attractive Greco-Roman archaeological sites, with an enormous Hellenistic theater, the spectacular ruins of a temple of Athena, a synagogue, Roman baths, and more. Trees and wildflowers (in season) make the ancient setting particularly atmospheric.

Built in the 19th century, this historic opera house is one of Germany’s most celebrated performance venues. Although it was destroyed during World War II, it’s since been painstakingly rebuilt, restoring its spectacular architecture. The theater is home to the Saxon State Orchestra and the Saxon State Opera, drawing visitors for concerts, ballet performances, and operas.

Perched on the northern slope of the Acropolis and peeking above the rooftops of neighboring Plaka, Anafiotika is a tiny, picturesque enclave in Athens. Known for its steep, cobbled alleyways lined with pocket-sized whitewashed houses—many of which feel reminiscent of villages on the Greek islands—the neighborhood was once home to the city's laborers. Today, it's become one of the most charming corners of the Greek capital.

Built in 1891 for the Czech Tourist Club’s General Land Centennial Exhibition, Petrin Tower (Petrínská Rozhledna) resembles a mini Eiffel Tower perched atop Petrin Hill. The highest point in Prague, with panoramic views, the landmark is popular with tourists who brave the 299 steps to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.

The house where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756, Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozart’s Geburtshaus) stands on Getreidegasse, the main shopping street in Salzburg’s Old Town (Altstadt). One of Austria’s most beloved museums, this ocher-painted town house is a must for first-time visitors to the city.