Europe attractions

Second only to Florence's Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) is one of Tuscany’s most beautiful churches. The magnificent Gothic and Romanesque structure is hard to miss thanks to its tall spires, bold white-and-green stripes, and ornate facade. Inside, the cathedral is equally impressive, with sculptures by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo, and elaborate 16th-century frescoes painted by Pinturicchio.

The mighty medieval fortress Belém Tower (Torre de Belém), perched on the Tagus River (Rio Tejo), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit landmark for visitors to Lisbon. It’s a lasting symbol of Portugal’s maritime heritage, dating back to the early 1500s, alongside the nearby Jerónimos Monastery. Plus, you can enjoy panoramic views from its rooftop.

Siena’s central Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in Tuscany. This sweeping, shell-shaped space is anchored by the magnificent Palazzo Pubblico (home to the Museo Civico) and soaring Torre del Mangia tower, and hosts the historic Palio di Siena festival each July and August.

Just north of Lisbon, Cabo da Roca is known for its dramatic views and scenic cliff-top walking path. As the westernmost point in continental Europe, it was once believed by Europeans to be the edge of the world. Today, it is home to a defensive lighthouse built in the 16th century and serves as a haven for local birdlife, which you can see soaring above the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean below.

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.

Crowned by the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Montmartre in Paris’ 18th arrondissement is famed for its cobblestone streets, artsy vibe, and panoramic central hill—a popular spot to watch the sunset. Visitors also flock here to imagine what life was like when artists such as Dalí, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso lived and worked here, and to get their portrait sketched by a street artist in Place du Tertre.

Like the neighboring Petit Palais and Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais was created for the 1900 World’s Fair. Instantly recognizable for its colossal nave and immense glass roof, the versatile venue has hosted a wide range of events, from the Olympic Games to Chanel fashion shows. Today, locals and visitors alike come to explore its art exhibitions, educational activities for children, and dining and social spaces, all incorporated into its elegant Beaux-Arts architecture.

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.

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.

Located about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Barcelona is Montserrat Mountain, the “Serrated Mountain.” This unique rock formation, sawed and sculpted by thousands of years of wind and rain, is most famously home to a Benedictine monastery, an important Catholic pilgrimage spot thanks to its 12th-century wooden statue of La Moreneta (The Black Madonna), Catalonia’s patron saint. Aside from its religious and cultural importance, the mountain also boasts unbeatable views from its peaks.

Sprawling down the southern slopes of Lisbon, Alfama is the capital’s oldest and most picturesque district, with steep cobblestone lanes and a sea of terracotta roofs below the high walls of Castelo de São Jorge. Head there in the daytime to take in the sights, browse the flea market, and ride the historic tram, then come back after dark to soak up the atmosphere at the many fado bars.

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.

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.

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.

Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio) is one of Lisbon’s largest and best-known public plazas. It was formerly home to the city’s Royal Palace, which was destroyed during a devastating 1755 earthquake. The palace now stands elsewhere, and the square has been restored with ornate arches, grand civic buildings, and an equestrian statue of King Jose I. Marble steps lead from Commerce Square directly down to the Tagus River.

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.

The House of Parliament (Országház) is one of Europe’s most photogenic government buildings. Perched on the UNESCO World Heritage–listed banks of the Danube River, the 19th-century neo-Gothic structure features more than 500 rooms, a handful of which are open to the public including the Domed Hall, where the Crown of St. Stephen is on display. Tours of the buildings reveal the stained glass, sculptures, and frescoes that make the complex so special.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Perched above the city of Stirling on a chunk of volcanic rock, this mighty Scottish fortress has seen it all, from attacks by Robert the Bruce to the coronation of the infant Mary Queen of Scots. In addition to the impeccably recreated royal palace interiors and the sheer amount of history held within its robust walls, the castle also offers superb views over Stirling and Scotland’s green hills and valleys.

The Giant's Causeway is a cluster of approximately 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the North Atlantic Ocean on the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. A UNESCO World Heritage site and National Trust property, the area attracts thousands of tourists each year who come for the dramatic coastal views, landscape photography opportunities, and the chance to learn about the geological forces that created this impressive natural landmark.

Visitors flock to Loch Ness hoping to catch a glimpse of its most elusive inhabitant: the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie. But this lake in the Scottish Highlands is worth the trip even if you don't believe the rumors. Surrounded by magnificent scenery, it's a popular boating and sightseeing spot—and so deep that it’s Great Britain’s largest freshwater lake by volume.

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.