Europe attractions

Originally built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, the Palais de Chaillot houses an array of Paris’ top cultural attractions, including a national theater, multiple museums, and even an aquarium. The landmark building, renowned for its art deco design, stands directly across the River Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and its terrace is a popular photo spot. Admire the building from the outside or go inside to explore its institutions.

A grandiose avenue stretching from Porto City Hall (Câmara Municipal do Porto) to Liberdade Square, Avenida dos Aliados serves as the city’s cultural and architectural center. A walk along the boulevard reveals architectural styles from neoclassical to French beaux arts and baroque, along with what’s been called the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s.

Perched amid rolling mountains in the highlands of Cairngorms National Park, the Dalwhinnie Distillery is Scotland’s highest whisky distillery. Its copper pot stills produce a light, fresh, fruity single malt that’s known as “the gentle spirit.” The visitor center offers a range of distillery tours alongside a shop and a stylish whisky bar.

The Otto Weidt Museum (Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt) tells the story of an everyday hero of World War II: Otto Weidt. This visually impaired broom and brush factory owner employed blind and deaf members of the Jewish community and helped save them from persecution during the Holocaust by falsifying documents and providing safe places to hide.

Set on the idyllic shores of Lake Bracciano, the beautifully preserved Odescalchi Castle (officially called Castello Orsini-Odescalchi but also known as the Bracciano Castle) was built during the late 15th century by Napoleone Orsini and is considered one of Europe’s most impressive Renaissance fortresses.

Palermo’s splendid La Martorana is an architectural time capsule, with elements of three successive historic styles—Norman, Romanesque, and baroque—on its facade, and untouched Byzantine glory within. One of a group of extraordinary UNESCO-listed churches in Palermo, La Martorana dazzles with its 12th-century mosaics.

In Cesky Krumlov, 105 miles (170 kilometers) away from Prague, the St. Vitus Church (Kostel sv. Vita) is not be confused with the cathedral of the same name located at Prague Castle. With its unusual steep-sided roof and single tower, the church is a popular stop for visitors coming to see Krumlov Castle—the church is inside the castle complex.

Flowing through the center of town and dividing Dublin in two, the River Liffey is the waterway around which the city first grew and developed, and it remains at the heart of city life. Originating in the Wicklow Mountains, the river flows through Wicklow, Kildare, and Dublin, before emptying into the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay.

Montalcino is known as the heart of Tuscany’s Brunello di Montalcino wine production, but oenophiles shouldn’t overlook this hill town’s spectacular Fortezza di Montalcino, an imposing 14th-century fortress set above the town’s medieval center with sweeping views from its watchtowers and an atmospheric wine shop.

The Hermitage is a magical stretch of Perthshire forest that was once a pleasure ground for the aristocracy. Today, visitors of all stripes can walk along pathways sheltered by towering Douglas firs to the roaring Black Linn waterfall. Deep in the woods, the Georgian folly known as Ossian’s Hall provides the ideal platform for viewing the stunning waterfall.

Paris’ wine-making history dates back to Roman times, but only one small vineyard remains in the French capital: Clos Montmartre. Perched on a hillside plot in the Montmartre neighborhood, just a short walk from the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and surrounded by residential buildings, the urban vineyard produces pinot noir and Gamay grapes and a selection of small-batch wines.

The fifth-largest island in Norway, Kvaloya connects to mainland Tromso via the winding, floating Sandnessund Bridge—just soaking in the views from here is an experience in itself. The island is intimately connected with its smaller sister, Sommaroy, and between the two of them, they offer some of Northern Norway’s wildest adventures: think winter surfing on white-sand beaches, chasing the northern lights, and beyond.

The Albert Memorial was inaugurated in 1872, dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who passed away at the age of 42 following a battle with typhoid fever. Located in Kensington Gardens, the structure is renowned for its gilded statue of the prince and its ornate Gothic Revival design. It’s one of the city’s most impressive monuments, which is saying something.

Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala Domkyrka) is one of the largest cathedrals in the Nordics, and is particularly notable for its towering spires. Originally built in the 13th century, the religious landmark is also the resting place of many important historical figures, including King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and Carl Linnaeus. Visitors flock to the cathedral to see its Treasury, home to a magnificent collection of medieval church fabrics and clothing.

This mountain pass in the Bernese Oberland may be best known as the starting point for the scenic Jungfrau Railway, but it's also a hiking hub: several trails from here offer stunning mountain views. From an elevation of more than 2,000 meters (6,560 feet), you can marvel at the peaks of Jungfrau and Mönch, and the stark Eiger North Face.

A neo-Gothic masterpiece, Highclere Castle is best known for doubling as Downton Abbey in the TV series of the same name. The turreted, sandstone mansion was created by Sir Charles Barry, the architect behind London's Houses of Parliament. The current owners of the castle welcome the public to explore the lavishly decorated interior and the sprawling grounds at certain times of year—prebooking is essential.

Most visitors come to Ano Mera, in the interior of Mykonos, to see the Byzantine Panagia Tourliani Monastery, fronted by an ornate bell tower with triple bells. Its interior is perhaps even more impressive, with carved marble and wood, Byzantine frescoes, crystal chandeliers, a gilded pulpit, and a wooden altar screen with scenes from the New Testament.

Located in the heart of Stockholm’s Old Town, the Nobel Prize Museum celebrates more than a century of natural sciences, arts, and culture, and the creative minds that have and continue to dedicate their lives promoting dialogue on their respect fields.

The 800-year-old Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. Built in the 12th century by Norman lord John de Courcy, it was used to ward off attacks from the Scots, Irish, English, and French, and also served as a garrison during World War I and an air raid shelter during World War II.

The Serpent Column, also known as the Delphi Tripod (Yilani Sütun), is a 2,500-year-old bronze work located at the center of Sultanahmet Square, where the Hippodrome of Constantinople once stood. The column was originally part of a sacrificial tripod until the Romans moved to its current location to adorn the horse racing stadium.

Founded by Henry VI and boasting a history dating back almost six centuries, Eton College is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious boarding schools. One of only four remaining boys’ boarding schools in the UK, the exclusive college has been attended by politicians, actors, literary icons, and royalty.

Hailed by many as Amsterdam’s most beautiful market, Albert Cuyp Market has welcomed shoppers since 1905, when it started as a collection of street traders. Named after the 17th-century painter, today's market features around 260 stalls piled high with food, clothes, and more. It also boasts the title of Europe’s biggest market, making it a must-visit when in the Dutch capital.

If you are looking to immerse yourself in the local culture of Palermo, the Ballarò Market (Mercato Ballarò) is the place to go. As the city’s oldest street market and one of the most vibrant markets in Europe, Ballarò also provides a glimpse into Palermo’s past as a major commercial center and port.

Grafton Street, a stretch of pedestrianized road in Dublin’s city center, connects two top landmarks: Trinity College and St. Stephen’s Green. Both a main thoroughfare and a destination itself, Grafton Street is lined with shops and restaurants, and is known for its groups of musicians called buskers. Wander into the adjoining side streets to order a pint at a classic Dublin pub.

Located on Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining natural islands in the River Seine, the Palais de Justice preserves what remains of the former Royal Palace. Situated between the Gothic royal Sainte-Chapelle chapel and the former Conciergerie prison, the Palais de Justice is infamous for its role as a public execution site during the French Revolution.

Karl-Marx-Allee, formerly known as Stalinallee, is a monumental boulevard that was once the most famous street in East Berlin. Built as part of the Soviet reconstruction project, it is lined with classic Soviet-style buildings including large residential blocks. It still remains a popular street for shopping, eating, relaxing, and reveling.

A port city on the west coast of Menorca, Ciutadella de Menorca (most commonly referred to as Ciutadella) is best known for its historic quarter and medieval streets. Travel back to the 17th century by strolling around the neighborhoods in the city’s old town, admiring the whitewashed stone homes and mansions along the way.

It may be the Czech Republic’s newest national park, but Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Narodni Park Ceske Svycarsko) has long been a popular destination for traders and artists. The park’s curious name was inspired by two 19th-century Swiss artists who settled in the region because it reminded them of their homeland. Today the park draws hikers, bikers, climbers, and nature lovers from around the world.

Judenplatz sits at the heart of where Vienna’s Jewish community once thrived and where the city’s first synagogue was built—later torched during the 1420 antisemitic uprising. Today this historic square is known for the excellent Jüdisches Museum Judenplatz and the stark Holocaust Memorial at one end.

At the eastern end of Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam, the National Monument is the Netherlands’ most important World War II memorial. Inaugurated in 1956, it’s a striking landmark featuring a 72-foot (22-meter) high pillar of white travertine adorned with a poignant relief that symbolizes peace, victory, and liberation. It serves as the centerpiece for the country’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony.