Europe attractions

The Irish Whiskey Museum is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most beloved tipples: whiskey. With multimedia exhibits and Irish whiskey memorabilia, the museum looks at the distilling process, the origins and history of Irish whiskey production, and the rise, fall, and current revival of the Irish whiskey industry.

A historic quarter in central Glasgow, Merchant City has a vibrant atmosphere thanks to trendy bars and restaurants, boutique hotels, and designer shopping. Extending from Merchant Square to Royal Exchange Square, this district is popular for a city stroll or people watching at a sidewalk cafe. It’s also home to the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA).

Nestled up against the Minho River on the northern border between Portugal and Spain, Valença do Minho is a medieval hilltop town and one of the oldest settlements in Portugal. It’s famous for its fortress and walled old town.

Situated in Salzburg’s Old Town, St. Peter’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery comprising an abbey, church, and cemetery. Founded in AD 696 and renovated during the 1600s and 1700s, its church draws visitors for its gilded baroque decoration and as the setting for the debut performance of Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor in 1783.

There’d be no Rome without the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere). The Eternal City was founded on its banks several millennia ago, and the river remains just as indispensable to the Italian capital today. People come here to jog, ride bikes, or walk between neighborhoods. Forget the straight and orderly rivers of Paris and London; unlike the Seine or the Thames, the Tiber is meandering and unruly. It’s the perfect symbol for Rome itself, and shouldn’t be missed on a trip to the city.

Sitting atop Mxadount Benacantil, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Alicante plain, the 9th-century Castle of Santa Barbara is as one of Europe’s largest medieval fortresses, with three different enclosures from three distinct periods of time and artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age, and the Iberian and Roman empires.

Each summer, thousands of colorful butterflies congregate in the humid Petaloudes Valley, earning it the nickname Valley of the Butterflies. It’s one of the island’s most remarkable natural attractions, where you’ll find several species of the winged beauties, as well as the only natural Oriental Sweetgum forest in Europe.

Dominating the street by the Bank of England is Mansion House, a Palladian stately home that’s fronted by a temple portico and flanked by stairs on either side. If it looks important, it’s because it is: This has been the home and office of the Lord Mayor of London since the mid-18th century. While most daily visitors are officials on business, curious sorts can also peek inside on a prebooked guided tour.

As a revered local monument and protected heritage site, Poljud Stadium (Stadion Poljud) is on the itinerary for most sightseeing tours of Split and is just north of the city’s historic UNESCO World Heritage-listed center. It was built in 1979 for the Mediterranean Games and was opened by then-President of former Yugoslavia, Marshall Tito. Designed as a multi-purpose facility by Croatian architect Boris Magaš, the stadium’s main function today is as the beloved home of Hajduk Split football team, which plays in the European Champions League and is followed by avid fans across the region. The stadium is a seafront landmark that appears at its most beautiful when illuminated by hundreds of floodlights by night. Constructed with two stands forming an arched, shell-like layered concrete exterior, Poljud has a seating capacity of 35,000 and among other events, hosts athletics matches and music festivals, including August’s annual Ultra Europe dance-music extravaganza.

Much of the Lake District landscape around St. Gilgen (Sankt Gilgen) found its way into the opening shots of The Sound of Music, and the village center itself is chocolate-box perfection, where wooden chalets with steeply pitched roofs stand side by side with softly colored baroque townhouses overlooking Wolfgangsee lake.

Encircled by a trio of lakes—Lake Lucerne, Lake Zug, and Lake Lauerz—and adjacent to the neighboring peaks of Mt. Pilatus and Brunnistock, Mt. Rigi is the enduring postcard star of central Switzerland. Nicknamed the “Queen of the Mountains,” Rigi has long captured the hearts of artists, including author Mark Twain and painter J.M.W. Turner. Hike or hop on a scenic cogwheel train or cable car to reach the summit for unforgettable views.

Built in the 17th century, Copenhagen’s Round Tower (Rundetårn is said to be the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. Although there’s no longer a staff of scientists here, the tower is visited by amateur astronomers at night and tourists looking for great city views during the day.

Most of Rotterdam’s historic buildings were destroyed by World War II bombing, with a few notable exceptions, including the city’s grand City Hall (Stadhuis). Built in the first two decades of the 20th century, this massive Beaux Art-style palace features four wings around an interior courtyard and a soaring clock and bell tower.

Barcelona’s Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) is an open-air museum located on Montjuïc Hill. Built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition, the village was created to resemble a traditional Spanish town and depicts replicas of Spanish buildings from around the country that showcase the country's architectural and cultural diversity. Visitors to the village can watch demonstrations of traditional Spanish glassblowing, pottery, and more, and purchase handmade products.

Nuremberg’s Hauptmarkt is a bustling square in the center of the Old Town. Known for its market stalls selling fresh produce, crafts, and local goods, it’s also the setting of Nuremberg’s famous Christmas market. Notable landmarks include the Schönen Brunnen fountain and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady).

The Mémorial de la Shoah (Shoah Memorial), Paris’ official Holocaust museum, was opened in 2005 on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Located in the Marais district—the city’s historical Jewish quarter—on the site of the Memorial to the Unknown Jewish Martyr, the museum features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, the commemorative Wall of Names, and other moving monuments and tributes.

By far the coolest bar in Amsterdam, the Xtracold Icebar is kept at a chilly 14°F (-10°C) and everything from the walls and stools to the cocktail glasses are made entirely out of ice. A visit takes you on a drinking adventure based on Dutch explorers’ 1590s expeditions in search of the Northeast Passage.

This up-and-coming island district in central Stockholm was once considered the slum of the city. But today Södermalm, often referred to simply as “Söder” (Swedish for “south”), is the bohemian sector of the area full of hip cafes, cool vintage shops, and fantastic waterfront views.

A Roman Catholic basilica, the Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia is home to the tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who saw a vision of Jesus in 1931. Consequently, the church is a popular pilgrimage place for Catholics from around the world.

The Arch of Peace (Arco della Pace), located at the entrance to Parco Sempione in Milan, is a neoclassical arch begun by Napoleon during the early 19th century to honor his military victories. Made of marble from the Swiss Alps, the triumphal arch marks the beginning of the road that connects Milan and Paris.

No tour of Ghent architectural landmarks is complete without stopping at St. Nicholas’ Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk). With spiky spires reaching over Ghent, it’s a hard-to-miss church, which is intentional as it was built to signal the city’s wealth to rival trading cities of Bruges and Antwerp. The inside is equally beautiful with its baroque high altar and stained-glass windows.

Located in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona, the Torre Glòries is a modern architectural landmark and one of the tallest buildings in the city. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the structure is said to have been inspired by Montserrat, Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia, and the bubbling form of a geyser. The 38-story building also has a popular observation deck offering 360° city views.

Built into the mountains north of Madrid, Spain's Valley of Cuelgamuros (Valley of the Fallen) is a memorial to those who died in the Spanish Civil War. Erected by Nationalist leader Francisco Franco, the sight has been steeped in controversy. The somber attraction is known for its ziggurat-like facade, vaulted crypt, and granite cross.

Lecce’s imposing Porta Napoli is a 16th-century triumphal arch that once served as the main entrance into the historic city center. Modeled on triumphal arches from ancient Rome, its neoclassical design is a departure from Lecce’s ornate baroque style, and the soaring marble gate is considered one of the city’s architectural treasures.

Like neighboring Basilica of Saint Mary, the 17th-century San Nicolás Cathedral in the heart of Alicante was erected atop a historic mosque. Designed by Agustin Bernardino, a student of celebratedxa0 Spanish architect and mathematician Juan de Herrera, the cathedral’s interior is marked by a soaring dome, a raised pipe organ, with intact Valencian Gothic cloisters from the 15th century.

The home of Swiss banking at the heart of Zurich’s luxury shopping street, Paradeplatz is one of the most powerful financial centers in Europe. The former 17th-century pig market is now a major transit interchange and home to the headquarters of UBS and Credit Suisse, as well as the flagship Confiserie Sprüngli chocolate store.

That St. Paul's Church (Paulskirche) was one of the first buildings to be rebuilt post WWII says a lot about its importance. The landmark church is not only a center of worship; it also played a significant role in Frankfurt’s history, serving as the seat of the 1848 Frankfurt Parliament, the first freely elected German parliament.

One of the most important streets in Genoa’s historic center, Via Garibaldi was historically known as Strada Nuova, lined with palaces belonging to this former marina republic’s most powerful families. The street has changed names, but its UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli remain among the most spectacular attractions in Genoa.

Located 48 miles (78 kilometers) south of Kusadasi in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Didyma is a sanctuary centered on the 2nd-century-BC Temple of Apollo, once among the largest in the ancient Greek world. Now reduced to giant broken columns and chambers, the temple once drew thousands of pilgrims who came to worship Apollo and consult its prophesy-giving oracle.

Chic Milan is known for its contemporary elegance and relentless pace, so it may come as a surprise to learn that one of Italy’s loveliest city parks sits at its heart. Sempione Park (Parco Sempione) covers 116 acres (47 hectares) of central Milan, offering a welcome respite from the surrounding urban hustle and bustle.