Europe attractions

Located above Omaha Beach, just outside Bayeux, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a moving World War II-era site. It’s the final resting place of almost 9,400 soldiers, the vast majority of whom lost their lives fighting the D-Day battles in Normandy in June 1944. Other WWII heroes are buried here as well, and 1,600 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

The coastline of Capri is dotted with unique sea caves, and though the Blue Grotto may be the most famous, the White Grotto is one of the most spectacular. Named for the white stalactites that hang from its roof and the layers of calcareous material that coat its sides, this cavern is a popular stop on boat tours of the island.

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.

Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is a popular historical area of the Left Bank. Home to the main Sorbonne University campus, this student-filled neighborhood is known for its arty, intellectual feel. The Latin Quarter was also frequented by Lost Generation luminaries including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Pablo Picasso. Today, the area is distinguished by its buzzing cafés, lively restaurants, and must-see landmarks.

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.

One of several natural sea caves along Capri's rugged coastline, the Green Grotto (Grotta Verde) is known for the unique green light that filters through the water and reflects onto the walls, creating a striking, dreamy atmosphere inside.

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.

Located in southern Iceland, Vatnajokull National Park is renowned for its incredibly diverse and dramatic scenery, including glacial plateaus, active volcanoes, towering ice caps, black-sand beaches, and terrain that is bubbling with geothermal activity. Vatnajokull glacier, the continent’s largest glacier, dominates the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also contains Iceland’s highest mountain (Oraefajokull) and its deepest lake (Jokulsarlon).

The 13th-century Generalife served as a summer retreat for Nasrid kings when they needed a break from palace affairs. From its perch on Cerro del Sol (Hill of the Sun), the series of terraces, promenades, and gardens spread across 74 landscaped acres (30 hectares) of the Alhambra complex afford some of the best views over Granada.

One of France’s most important World War II landmarks, Pointe du Hoc is best known for its role in the D-Day Landings. Today, the promontory overlooking the Normandy coast is a destination for history buffs, those with personal ties to the conflict, and others wishing to pay tribute to the many soldiers who lost their lives here.

A vast landscape of hills and mountains, lush valleys, mist-shrouded lochs, and shady woodland trails, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park makes an easy rural retreat from Scotland’s biggest city. Located just north of Glasgow, the park also serves as the gateway to the Scottish Highlands.

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 Bosphorus Strait defines Istanbul. Running through the heart of the world’s only city that spans two continents, the mighty waterway is the dividing line between Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Dotted with parks and elaborate Ottoman mansions, including Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi) and Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi), and spanned by three intercontinental bridges, a Bosphorus cruise is a must for any visit to Turkey’s largest city.

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.

One of a trio of Neoclassical buildings known as the Athenian Trilogy, the 19th-century Academy of Athens (Akadimía Athinón was founded during the post-independence re-flowering of Greek culture and is home to the national institutes for sciences, philosophy, fine arts, and humanities—following a tradition first established by Plato.

Explore the grandeur of Ottoman architecture at the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), located on Istanbul’s historic peninsula. Opened in 1616 to rival the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Ayasofya) across the way, its six minarets punctuate the Istanbul skyline and serve as one of the city’s most famous symbols. Inside, intricately decorated domes and more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles give the Muslim monument its nickname.

The culprit behind Pompeii’s burial in AD 79, Mt. Vesuvius is one of Europe’s most infamous active volcanoes. While it’s currently enjoying a long dormant spell, scientists are constantly monitoring its seismic activity to avoid history repeating itself, and to reassure locals and visitors alike. Today, Mt. Vesuvius is a popular tourist attraction in southern Italy, and travelers often combine a trip to Pompeii with a visit to see the volcano that buried it.

Soaring up out of the bay, Mont-St-Michel seems as dramatic today as it must have been to its medieval pilgrims, who braved quicksand and strong tidal waves to reach it. Today, visitors cross the bay by easier means (shuttle bus or walking with a guide) to see historical treasures inside its intact fortress walls. For many, a highlight of the UNESCO–listed island is the abbey, where nuns and monks keep Mont-St-Michel’s religious heritage alive.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel remains the showstopper of the Vatican Museums, but Raphael’s Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) are no mere runner-up. The walls and ceiling of this set of four rooms are adorned with frescoes painted in the 16th century by the Renaissance master Raphael. A stroll through this section of the Pontifical Palace is one of the highlights of any visit to the Vatican, and you shouldn’t miss the Raphael Rooms.

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) is a medieval fortress built by the Visconti dynasty that became home to Milan’s ruling Sforza family in 1450. Stark and domineering, the historic brick castle has massive round battlements, an imposing tower overlooking the central courtyard and surrounding Parco Sempione gardens, and defensive walls designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Today the castle houses a number of world-class museums and galleries.

Piazzale Michelangelo is the most famous scenic overlook in Florence, affording visitors spectacular views over the city and its landmarks. From this 19th-century square set on a hillside in the Oltrarno neighborhood, you can see the Ponte Vecchio stretching across the Arno River and the iconic Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) soaring over the city’s rooftops, with the Tuscan hills rolling in the distance.

Once a working-class neighborhood, the Jordaan in central Amsterdam has become an upscale enclave favored by artists and designers. Grand 17th-century houses, art galleries, specialty shops, music venues, cafés, and restaurants line the leafy canals in this quintessential Amsterdam neighborhood, which attracts tourists and locals alike. Its most famous attraction is the Anne Frank House on the edge of the district.

Scotland's second largest island, covering an area more than twice that of Singapore, the Isle of Skye is a pocket of wilderness linked to the coast of the West Highlands by the Skye Bridge. With its dramatic sea cliffs, windswept valleys, theatrical rock formations, and glittering pools, waterfalls, and lochs, the island is a treat for nature lovers and film-makers alike.

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 Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) is a wooden drawbridge crossing the Amstel River featuring low arches that are illuminated with glistening lights at night. The original bridge was so skinny that it was only suitable for pedestrians and dated back to at least 1640. Today’s incarnation was completed in 1871 and is a wider replacement for the original structure.

The towering vertical cliffs of Meteora have offered a protected place to pursue spiritual contemplation for centuries. The first hermit monks lived up in caves, but eventually 24 Byzantine monasteries were built atop the imposing rock formations—six of which remain today. Part natural wonder, part man-made marvel, the dramatic locale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular attraction in Greece.

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) is a charming UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates from the 17th century and defines the city with its picturesque waterways. The ring comprises a series of semicircular canals bisected by smaller canals radiating from the middle—like the spokes on a Dutch bicycle wheel—crisscrossed by hundreds of bridges connecting about 90 islands and 1,700 bridges that make up the heart of the Dutch capital.

Delphi is one of Greece’s most famous archaeological sites, with its remarkably preserved ruins dotted along the southern slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The town has drawn visitors since the eighth century BC, when pilgrims flocked to the Temple of Apollo to ask for guidance from its oracle, Pythia. Aside from its UNESCO-listed ruins—which also include a theater, stadium, and treasury—Delphi is known for its serene natural beauty, with opportunities for skiing and hiking nearby.

St. Mary’s House in Ephesus is believed by many to be the place where the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, spent her final days, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims seeking the healing properties of the spring that runs beneath the stone home since its discovery in the 19th-century.

Amsterdam’s 17th-century Westerkerk (Western Church) is as known for its architecture, including a spire that measures some 280 feet (85 meters), as it is for its history. Rembrandt was buried here, and in her diaries Anne Frank wrote about the church’s clock chime—one of the few outside-world experiences she had while hiding from the Nazis.