Europe attractions

Sandwiched between some of London’s most famous attractions, Parliament Square is a green space with a significant history. The square is ringed by Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Supreme Court, and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. It features 12 statues of famous world leaders and historical figures, including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Nelson Mandela, and is a regular site of peaceful protests.

Running through the center of Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia is one of the city’s most beautiful—and expensive—avenues. Barcelona’s answer to Paris’ Champs-Élysées, the thoroughfare links the Plaça de Catalunya to the eponymous Gràcia neighborhood. It’s home to a number of fantastic modernista and art nouveau buildings, including Gaudí’s La Pedrera (Casa Milà) and Casa Batlló, both of which hold UNESCO World Heritage status.

Piazza del Popolo is one of Rome’s largest public squares, marking the start of the ancient Via Flaminia. One side is anchored by the twin Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto churches. The 15th-century Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo—home to works by Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio—sits opposite, with a towering Egyptian obelisk marking the center. Don’t miss the scenic overlook from Pincio Gardens, connected by a switchback lane and pedestrian stairs.

One of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the marble Temple of Artemis (Artemision or Artemisium at Ephesus once spanned more than 63,000 square feet (around 5,850 square meters. Today all that remains of 127 original columns plus countless frescoes and statues is a teetering pillar and some foundation fragments.

The UNESCO World Heritage–listed Jerónimos Monastery is one of Lisbon’s most elaborate buildings. Inspired by Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India, the monument is a feast of architectural delights; its cloisters exemplify the Manueline style, while the stained-glass windows and intricate carvings within the Church of Santa Maria are another highlight.

The ancient Propylaea was once the monumental gateway to the Acropolis, and its colonnaded facade still makes a powerful impression more than 2,000 years after it was built. One of Athens’ premier ancient treasures, the Propylaea has massive Doric columns hewn from the same marble as the Parthenon, plus remains of its original wings on each side.

Since the 11th century, the Castelo de São Jorge (or St. George’s Castle) has stood tall in the Lisbon skyline, viewable from almost every point in the city. The Moorish castle overlooks various districts and offers some of the best panoramas of the city. Even if you only have a few hours, the former fortress offers plenty to do, from climbing its ramparts and viewing the camera obscura to exploring the artifacts at its archaeological museum.

Hailed as one of the prettiest places in Portugal, Óbidos is a medieval town encircled by fortified walls. It’s known as the Wedding Present Town, because Portuguese kings often gave Óbidos to their wives as part of their dowry, and it boasts a cluster of Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque churches. Its whitewashed historical center is immensely photogenic, studded with blue-and-white azulejo (ceramic tile) murals.

Originally built in the 17th century as the Church of Santa Engracia, the National Pantheon (Santa Egracia Panteao Nacional Lisbon) is now the burial place of many notable Portuguese personages, such as fado superstar Amália Rodrigues. The massive white structure is omnipresent throughout Lisbon’s Alfama district, and its interiors feature beautiful Italian marble.

One of the most remote and beautiful beaches on Italy's Sorrento Coast, the Baths of Queen Giovanna (Bagni Regina Giovanna) is set along the rocky cliffs of Capo di Sorrento near a dramatic natural stone arch and the ancient ruins of a Roman villa. This stretch of coastline and its natural pool are accessible only by foot or private boat, making it a tempting destination for intrepid wanderers—and sailors.

One of the mainstays of daily life in Italy is shopping at the market, and for many Romans, the market means Campo de’ Fiori. In the morning, this historic square hosts one of the city’s most famous open-air food markets, where you can pick up fruit, vegetables, flowers, and souvenirs. By night, the vendors are gone, but Campo de’ Fiori’s many cafés and bars fill with young locals and visitors.

Sitting high on top of a 200-foot (61-meter) cliff in the middle of Transylvania, Bran Castle is surrounded by an aura of mystery thanks to its tenuous connection to the story of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. While you won’t find any vampires inside or much of a link to its real-life inspiration (Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad the Impaler), this 14th-century castle maintains a brooding beauty and a royal museum that make up for any mixed messages.

Instantly recognizable for its gigantic dome and snow-white facade, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur—or Basilica of the Sacred Heart—is one of Paris’ most magnificent structures. Completed in 1914 and now a listed national monument, the basilica overlooks all of Paris from its perch on the Butte Montmartre (Montmartre Hill). Visitors are free to visit the church (quietly), after which they can admire the spectacular cityscape.

Built around the ruins of the Roman Agora, Plaka is one of the oldest residential areas in Athens—and its cobbled streets are essentially an open-air archaeological site. Here you’ll find Cycladic-style white-washed homes, characteristic architecture dating back to Byzantine and Ottoman times, and narrow alleyways with views of the Acropolis perched on the hill above. Once you’ve visited Plaka’s monuments and museums, sit at a sidewalk taverna to see its charm on full display.

The world’s largest Gothic cathedral, built atop the remains of a mosque, the Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede) features a spectacular gold altarpiece in its main altar depicting 36 scenes from the life of Christ, as well as the tomb of Christopher Columbus, works by Goya and Murillo, and the dramatic Giralda Tower.

Stretching 82 feet (25 meters) across the Skógá River and plunging 197 feet (60 meters) down a lush cliff, Skógafoss clocks in as one of Iceland’s biggest, most picturesque waterfalls. Its clouds of spray regularly create vivid rainbows, much to the delight of photographers, while fishermen flock to the waterway for its char and salmon. Said to be the site of a hidden Viking treasure, the waterfall is also the subject of local folklore.

Nestled high along the Antrim coastline, Dunluce Castle offers dramatic views and insight into the life and legends of old Irish clans. Explore ancient ruins, discover township remains, or descend into a hidden cave to experience the site that inspired CS Lewis’ Cair Paravel and served as a filming location for HBO’sGame of Thrones.

Meticulously constructed using period-appropriate materials, Shakespeare’s Globe brings the theatergoing experience of the Elizabethan ages to life. The circular auditorium resembles the original 16th-century Globe Theatre, which stood just a street away before it was destroyed by fire. While the plays here aren’t exclusively Shakespeare’s, the Bard’s works dominate the schedule, and the wooden, open-air auditorium is an atmospheric place to witness the work of the world’s most famous playwright.

Flanked by the Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts skyscrapers, Port Olímpic was built as part of the area’s redevelopment in preparation for Barcelona’s 1992 Olympics. Thanks to its proximity to the beach and public art, including Frank Gehry’s shimmering Peix sculpture, it has become one of the most popular leisure areas in the city. The marina is the perfect place to dine and drink, overlooking multimillion-dollar yachts.

Flowing through the capital and providing the UNESCO–listed canals with their water, the Amstel River is Amsterdam’s main artery. And not only that—the city was first built around the river, which gave it its original name of Amstel Dam. Today, the river and its banks boast some of Amsterdam’s top attractions, including Magere Brug, nicknamed Skinny Bridge due to its narrowness, and the Stopera, an opera house that also functions as City Hall.

Standing tall in the center of the Gothic Quarter, the Barcelona Cathedral (Catedral de Barcelona) is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona and an unmissable landmark of the city. With richly decorated spires that stand out in the skyline, the 13th-century structure is known for its Gothic architecture, stained-glass windows, and tree-filled cloister, where 13 white geese wander in honor of St. Eulàlia, martyred at 13 years old.

Several things set Burano apart from other islands in Venice, and not just its geography, thanks to its location in the Venetian lagoon’s outer reaches. This humble island shows a completely different side of the city, trading busy streets and opulent churches for vividly colorful fisher’s houses and laid-back canals. Burano offers a breath of fresh air for visitors to Venice, but also a chance to learn about the proud local craft of choice, lace-making.

A glacial tongue extending out from the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, Sólheimajökull is one of Iceland’s most easily accessible and fastest-retreating glaciers. A popular spot for glacier hikes and ice climbing, its frozen surface is crisscrossed by rugged ridges, deep crevasses, and glacial streams. Equally spectacular is its unique black-streaked ice, created by ash deposits from the neighboring Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes.

Few buildings are as synonymous with the extravagance of France’s Second Empire as the Palais Garnier, the grande dame of Paris opera houses. The historic home of the Paris Opera and the inspiration behind Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, it’s best known for its grand auditorium, where you can sit beneath a magnificent Marc Chagall ceiling painting and a dazzling, 7-ton chandelier—the weight of an actual elephant!

One of the most striking landmarks in Athens is the massive neoclassical Parliament Building (Vouli) that takes up the east side of the city’s main Syntagma Square. Home to the Greek parliament, government halls, and archives, the building stands above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where crowds gather every hour, on the hour, to watch the Changing of the Guard.

A popular meeting place for tourists and locals, Plaza Mayor dates back to the early 17th century, during King Felipe III's reign; its central equestrian statue is a nod to the king's role in overseeing the square's completion. Forming the outer walls are a series of three-story buildings with balconies overlooking the lively scene.

The Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) houses one of the finest art collections in the world, specializing in European art from the 12th to 19th centuries. Thousands of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art are on display throughout its halls, and they represent merely a fraction of the total collection. Highlights include works by Francisco Goya, Diego Velázquez, and El Greco. Perhaps the most famous paintings are Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor) by Velázquez, Goya’s “Black Paintings,” and The Garden of Earthly Delights, a triptych by Hieronymus Bosch.

Named after a small monastery that once stood on Monastiraki Square, the vibrant Monastiraki neighborhood in downtown Athens brims with energy night and day. Its bustling streets are crammed with shops and stalls selling everything from inexpensive trinkets to handcrafted leather goods and antique treasures, as well as people-packed rooftop bars and terraces. Ancient highlights include Hadrian’s Library, and the Ancient Agora of Athens is close by.

Hidden underground in Rome’s outskirts, the sites known collectively as the Catacombs of Rome (Catacombe di Roma) include some of the city’s most ancient burial complexes. Dating from around the 2nd to 5th centuries, these underground networks of tunnels and chambers include early Christian symbols, often in the form of frescoes and sculptures—including the oldest known depiction of the Virgin Mary inside the Catacombs of Priscilla.

A major river on the Iberian Peninsula, the Douro River (Rio Douro) flows from Duruelo de la Sierra in northern Spain all the way to Porto in Portugal, where the river mouth empties into the Atlantic Ocean. More than just the region’s lifeline, it’s also the centerpiece of the Douro Valley, Portugal’s most famous wine region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.