Europe attractions

Out of the five D-Day beaches, Omaha Beach is perhaps the most poignant for US visitors. Along with Utah Beach, it was a designated landing zone for US troops, but it saw the fiercest fighting and became known as “Bloody Omaha.” Today, visitors can not only see the beach, but also admire Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge steel sculpture, pay respects to the fallen at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, and visit Omaha Beach Memorial Museum.

Situated on the shores of sparkling Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee), at the base of Mt. Pilatus, the small city of Lucerne (Luzern) is one of Switzerland’s most scenic destinations and a popular basecamp for exploring the Swiss Alps. Stroll through Lucerne’s historic center, complete with medieval ramparts and alpine views, then head into the mountains for hiking, cycling, and winter sports adventures.

The rippling facade of La Pedrera (Casa Milà) is among Barcelona’s most recognizable landmarks. Created by Antoni Gaudí, the architect behind Sagrada Família and other UNESCO-listed buildings, the apartment complex is now mainly a tourist attraction, and it encompasses courtyards, an apartment filled with early 20th-century furnishings, and a rooftop terrace with chimneys resembling abstract figures. Today, it’s preserved as an interpretive center dedicated to Gaudí’s work—and offers a great first taste of Barcelona architecture.

Covering an area of more than 115 square miles (300 square kilometers), the Burren is a vast, otherworldly expanse of scarred and fissured limestone rock, naturally sculpted through acidic erosion. Though it may look barren from afar, this rocky plateau is anything but lifeless. In spring and summer, wildflowers and rare plants thrive here.

Rome’s Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo)—a massive arena for chariot races, gladiator games, religious ceremonies, and civic events—could once hold an audience of 150,000, making it the largest hippodrome in the Roman Empire. Built during Julius Caesar’s reign, on the plain between the Aventine and Palatine hills, the arena is now a public park and archaeological site comprising arched stadium walkways, ancient shops and inns, and the circus track’s oblong outline and starting gates.

Edinburgh Castle—with its fortress walls, cobbled promenades, and winding stone steps—has loomed over Scotland’s capital city for more than 1,000 years. Steeped in history, the former royal palace is now a museum, featuring detailed exhibits; period artifacts, such as the Scottish Crown Jewels (aka the Honours of Scotland); and dark dungeons that illuminate the castle’s storied past.

All-too-often mistaken for London’s namesake bridge—London Bridge is the next bridge upstream—Tower Bridge is the iconic castle-esque landmark that dominates the city skyline. With its two neo-Gothic towers and central bascule flanked by suspension bridges, it’s an impressive feat of Victorian engineering that has been front and center throughout London’s history. It’s made movie history, too: James Bond, Spider-Man, and Tom Cruise have all performed daring stunts on the bridge.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), often referred to as “the drawing room of Europe,” is one of the most famous squares in Italy. The geographic and cultural heart of Venice—with St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace at one end, the campanile towering above, and the Procuratie palaces’ colonnaded arcade lining three sides—this elegant piazza is steeped in history. Soak in the square’s Renaissance splendor at one of its many coveted café tables.

Stretching from the city of Porto on Portugal’s Atlantic coast to the Spanish town of Duruelo de la Sierra, the Douro river is the third-longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, and flows through one of Europe’s most picturesque wine-growing regions. Visitors come to enjoy the scenery, and taste the local wine and port.

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is a beautiful baroque structure with more than 3,000 rooms, making it one of Europe's largest royal residences. Although the Spanish royal family no longer lives here, it remains the official state residence and is used for ceremonies and events. With opulent halls, grand staircases, and art-filled galleries, it's a popular place for tourists in Madrid to get a peek into Spain's royal history.

The Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) house one of the world’s most significant collections of art, drawing in more than a million annual visitors who wish to cast their eyes upon its many masterpieces. Set in the heart of Florence, the museum contains the works of artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Giotto, among others. It is the premier place to view Italian Renaissance art and is the most-visited museum in the country.

Southern Spain’s cultural landscapes have been shaped by centuries of Moorish and Catholic influence, but few places exemplify this influence as beautifully as the Royal Alcázar of Seville (Real Alcázar de Sevilla). Highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s sprawling complex include the Palace of King Pedro (Palacio del Rey Don Pedro), home to intricate Mudéjar plasterwork, and the sublime sunken garden, Courtyard of the Maidens (Patio de las Doncellas).

On the Right Bank of the Seine River, flanked by the Tuileries Garden and the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris. The infamous guillotines of the French Revolution were located here, but today it’s best known for striking monuments and storied architecture. Stroll through the sweeping square to admire the ancient Luxor Obelisk, monumental Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves, and palaces-turned-hotels.

Athenian rulers began construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus in the 6th century BC. By the time Roman Emperor Hadrian completed it 600 years later, it was the largest temple in ancient Greece, starring a massive statue of Zeus, king of the gods of Mt. Olympus. Though only 15 of its original 104 columns, many of which were recycled for other monuments, still stand today, what remains is nothing short of impressive.

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) overflows with medieval charm thanks to narrow winding roads, shaded plazas, and beautiful architecture—including that of the Barcelona Cathedral. The neighborhood’s history dates back to Roman times, which is why you’ll find remnants of ancient towers and temples alongside trendy boutiques and tapas bars. Known for noteworthy museums and churches, the Gothic Quarter’s proximity to La Rambla also makes it popular among the young, nightlife-loving crowd.

The symbol of Capri—and one of the island’s most striking natural features—this trio of soaring rock spurs jutting out from the waters of the Mediterranean are a dramatic sight from both land and sea. Take in their craggy beauty from one of the island’s many scenic overlooks, or sail past on a boat tour.

One of the most famous bridges in Venice, and indeed in Italy, the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is the oldest and grandest of the bridges that cross the city’s Grand Canal. But the Rialto isn’t just a public convenience that links the San Marco and San Polo districts; it’s also a stone marvel that adds to Venice’s elegant cityscape and is home to two rows of small stores and one of the city’s finest viewpoints.

Bohemian Trastevere is one of Rome’s most historic and picturesque neighborhoods—a maze of cobblestone streets lined with lively restaurants, sidewalk cafés, and bars. Across the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere) from the center of Rome (hence the area’s name, which means "across the Tiber"), Trastevere is home to one of Rome’s oldest churches, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere (built in AD 340), and a wealth of artwork, including Raphael frescoes at Villa Farnesina.

Rijksmuseum’s collection ranks among the world’s finest; it includes nearly 8,000 pieces spread over 80 galleries. Some of the Amsterdam museum’s most revered works are 15th- to 19th-century paintings by Flemish and Dutch masters, including Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Vermeer. In addition to the astounding eight centuries of Dutch art and history, the museum has extensive outdoor gardens and an acclaimed restaurant, Rijks.

Venice is a city built on water, and the Grand Canal (Canale Grande) is its bustling main street. Lined with sumptuous Venetian palaces and crowded with gondolas, water taxis, and vaporetti (public water buses), this thoroughfare is a feast for the senses. The Grand Canal winds its way through the central neighborhoods of Venice from the Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), passing under the iconic Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) along the way, and functions as the scenic main artery for transporting both people and goods around the City of Canals.

An enduring symbol of Athens’ connection to the Olympics, the gleaming all-marble Panathenaic Stadium traces its origins to the Panathenaic Games of the fourth century BC. It has since hosted events such as the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the 2004 Olympics, making it a key local landmark and attraction. The stadium now serves as a monument to the games with its on-site museum celebrating the event.

Built in the 1980s for the European Athletics Championships, Athens’ Olympic Stadium was remodeled by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava for the 2004 Olympics. As the largest stadium in Greece, with nearly 70,000 seats, the Olympic Stadium hosts major sporting events and concerts by big international acts such as U2 and Lady Gaga. It’s officially known as the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens “Spiros Louis” or OAKA.

Most visitors to Rome pass through Piazza Venezia—an important inner-city intersection in front of the immense Vittorio Emanuele Monument—at least once, even if only for its views of the impressive monument. This busy, sprawling intersection has a vast grassy island at its center and fringes of pedestrian space, making it technically a square. However, its real function is to keep the Eternal City’s car and bus traffic flowing rather than act as a leisure space.

Santorini’s Red Beach is not your average white-sand beauty. Rather, it’s a narrow, pebbly stretch hemmed in by high rust-red cliffs and scattered with large volcanic rocks. Together with the sapphire blue waters of the Aegean Sea, these volcanic features create a natural color palette that draws photographers to its shores. It’s particularly striking due to its proximity to White Beach.

Every day, more than 250,000 passengers pass through Amsterdam Central Station. It’s the city’s most important transport hub, offering both national and international train services. But even if you’re not taking a train, it’s worth stopping by the architectural marvel, which combines neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles and was designed by renowned architect Pierre Cuypers. The vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows inside the station are a must-see.

Built in 532 as one of the world’s largest places of worship, the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) may have shifted its identity with the times, but it has never lost its grandeur. Converted from an Orthodox Christian cathedral to a mosque during the Ottoman period, the pink-hued Old City building is part of Istanbul’s Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include its huge central dome and Byzantine architecture.

Trafalgar Square is in the heart of Westminster, and it’s known for being one of the city’s most recognizable public spaces. With striking architecture—including Nelson’s Column and grand fountains—it also has several notable buildings nearby, such as the National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Visitors come to meet, relax, or take part in the many events, parades, protests, and public celebrations that often fill the square, making it a lively gathering place year-round.

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the Danube riverfront, the Buda Castle (Budai Vár), or Buda Royal Palace, is one of Budapest’s most photographed landmarks. The magnificent palace dates back to the 13th century, but has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history, most recently in a neo-baroque style.

The Agora was the political and social heart of the ancient city of Athens, and the sprawling ruins of this civic center and marketplace are among the most important in the modern city. Step 2,500 years back in time as you explore its highlights, including the remarkably preserved Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos, an ancient shopping mall and now a museum displaying artifacts unearthed from the archaeological site.

An instantly recognizable symbol of Paris, the colossal Arc de Triomphe stands at the epicenter of Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 of the city’s busiest avenues converge. The Napoleon-commissioned monument, adorned with high-relief sculptures depicting sword-wielding soldiers and inscribed with the names of generals and battles, commemorates French soldiers and military victories. The top of the arch, accessible via 284 steps, affords superb views over all of Paris.