Europe attractions

Mauritshuis is home to one of the best collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world. Often referred to as "the jewel box," the ornately elegant 17th-century mansion is a textbook example of Dutch classical architecture, built as the private residence of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen.

The looming steel peaks of the Iron Bridge (Eiserner Steg) have framed Frankfurt’s skyline since 1869; a homage to the city’s industrial age. The only footbridge across the Main River, the Iron Bridge links the Old Town and Römerberg Square on the north bank, with Old Sachsenhausen and the Museum Embankment on the south bank.

Resembling a fortress from the outside but revealing a church, cloisters, and museum inside, the Dominican Monastery in Old Dubrovnik is often missed by time-crunched travelers. Yet this wonderful 14th-century complex is more than worth seeking out for its ethereal Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, religious art, and peaceful cloistered garden.

The St. Nikolai Church was first constructed in the 12th century, a fantastic Gothic cathedral on the River Alster. Rebuilt several times over, it was mostly destroyed during World War II air raids—miraculously, the cathedral tower still stands. Some 35,000 people were killed during Operation Gomorrah; today, the church ruins serve as a museum and memorial to those lives lost.

Utah Beach was the westernmost landing point on D-Day. The main attraction at the site of the landing is the Utah Beach D-Day Museum (Musée du Débarquement), which focuses on the extraordinary battle. The museum also holds exhibits that offer a deep dive into French life under German occupation.

At the end of Charles Bridge, the Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower marks the entrance to Prague’s Old Town. Flanked by sculptures of St. Vitus and Charles IV, the striking structure was built in the late 14th century. Bohemian kings walked through the tower—considered one of Europe’s most beautiful gateways—on their coronation processions.

On Portugal’s Atlantic coast, Matosinhos Beach (Praia de Matosinhos) is the city of Porto’s closest strand. With broad sands and a scenic promenade lined with fish restaurants, it’s a lively destination and a favorite among local families, as well as a notable surf spot.

Standing in stark contrast to the baroque palaces and grand plazas of historic Vienna, the colorful facade of the Hundertwasserhaus is one of the city’s most unique works of contemporary architecture. This eccentric apartment complex, masterpiece of Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, is a highlight of many Vienna tours.

Lyon Opera House (Opéra National de Lyon) is an arts hub and architectural gem noted for its combination of a modern shell and 18th-century facade. To fully experience it, attend a performance—from musical theater to dance. But whether it's to marvel at the building, or see a show, a visit to the opera should be on your Lyon itinerary.

Made up of three unique performance spaces, the Brighton Dome is a pillar of the English south coast’s cultural heritage. First the stable block of a young George IV, then a World War I hospital, the 200-year-old venue is now known as a champion of Brighton’s creative scene.

Standing on the banks of the Daugava River, Riga Castle (Rīgas Pils) is one of the most resilient icons of Latvian heritage. At various points in its 700-year history, the castle has been under Polish, Swedish, and Soviet control. Today it is the official residence of the President of Latvia.

Housed in the 17th-century Palácio Alvor, Lisbon’s National Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga) holds arguably the most notable collection of Portuguese art in the world. Works by other European artists, such as Piero della Francesca, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch, and Raphael, to name just a few, are also highlighted.

Just a short drive outside Tirana’s city center, this mountaintop is a popular summer refuge for locals. In winter, it’s an atmospheric spot to soak up Albania’s snowy scenery. The hike to the top takes several hours, but less intrepid visitors can opt for a 15-minute ride on the Dajti Express Cable Car to the panoramic upper station. Views stretch all the way to the Adriatic Sea.

Krakow has four memorial mounds: two that are prehistoric and two that are modern. The citizens of Krakow created the Kościuszko Mound in 1823 to honor Poland's national hero, Tadeusz Kościuszko. Visitors can wind their way atop the grassy, cone-like structure for spectacular city views and visit a museum of Kościuszko's achievements.

The Vintgar Gorge—created over centuries by the waters of the Radovna River—draws visitors with its emerald green pools, dramatic waterfalls, and picturesque swimming holes. Visit to traverse bridges and wooden boardwalks suspended over the water, and see the Sum waterfall, which cascades into an emerald pool at the head of the gorge.

Located near Piazza Navona, the 15th-century Basilica di Sant’Agostino is home to the Cavalletti Chapel, where visitors flock to view Caravaggio’s baroque masterpiece, The Madonna of Loreto (The Madonna of the Pilgrims), along with The Prophet Isaiah by Raphael, La Madonna del Parto statue by Sansovino, and the sumptuous high altar by Bernini. This art-filled church is a must-see for those who appreciate Renaissance and baroque painting and sculpture.

Sheer limestone cliffs featuring caves and rock towers rise up on either side of this 1.8-mile (3-kilometer canyon, which forms a split in what was once a single mountain. The dramatic karst formations, carved over millennia by a rushing river, are now part of a protected nature reserve popular with hikers and climbers.

Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, is divided into two parts,Lower Town (Donji Grad) and Upper Town (Gornji Grad). The modern center of Zagreb, Lower Town is home to several museums, gardens, and historic buildings. Among the highlights is Lenuci’s Horseshoe, a series of seven interconnected parks that encircle the district’s top sights.

Also known as the St. George Rotunda, Sofia's early-Christian Church of St. George was originally built by Romans during the 4th century, making it one of Bulgaria’s oldest buildings. Today, the church attracts visitors with its medieval frescoes, varied architecture, and Roman-era ruins that surround it.

Built between the 14th and 16th centuries, this austere Gothic church—as its name indicates—enjoys a lofty position atop the 1,378-foot (420-meter summit of School Hill. Accessible via a covered stairway, the church features remnants of 15th-century frescoes and a crypt, and promises panoramas of Sighişoara’s pretty medieval citadel.

Follow the medieval sea walls along the coast from Alanya’s Red Tower, and you’ll reach the impressive ruins of Alanya Shipyard (Alanya Tersanesi), where ships were built and repaired before setting sail across the Mediterranean. Built by the Seljuks in the 13th century, it’s the only shipyard of its kind still standing in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) and an important remnant of Alanya’s maritime history.

The OdessaNational Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is the oldest theater in Odessa, originally opened in 1810. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1873 and was rebuilt in 1887 with elements of neo-Renaissance, Baroque, rococo and classical baroque elements. Niches on the top floor of the façade display busts of Mikhail Glinka, Nikolai Gogol, Alexander Griboyedov and Alexander Pushkin. The main entrance is decorated with stucco molding depicting dramatic and comedic episodes. The theater’s large, horseshoe-shaped hall is decorated with gilded stucco figures and designs and features unique acoustics that allow even a whispered voice to reach any part of the hall. In its early days, to keep theater patrons comfortable during the summer months, workers would lower ice and straw to the basement below the hall, from where cool air would then rise up through vents beneath the seats. Although it was renovated in 2007, the theater sits upon precarious ground and is in danger of eventually collapsing.

The People’s Friendship Arch was constructed in 1982 and was originally intended as a symbol of unification between Ukraine and her Soviet overlords as well as the 60th anniversary of the founding of the USSR. Constructed of titanium and spanning 50 m (164 ft), it stands on a viewing deck with panoramas over the River Dnieper and was the work of architect I N Ivanov. Describing an arc – which is illuminated in the colors of the rainbow by night – across the skyline, the monument arches over a Socialist-Realism bronze sculpture by sculptor Aleksandr Skoblikov of Russian and Ukrainian workers holding up a unifying flag and a granite frieze detailing Ukrainian Cossacks pledging allegiance to the Russian Tsar in 1654, when the two countries first united. Ironically the uneasy accord between the two countries ended less than a decade after the monument was constructed with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. A small fairground and a few beer stalls are sometimes found at the foot of the monument.

The National Holocaust Memorial (Hollandsche Schouwburg), once a grand theater, now functions as a memorial to the many Jews deported from Amsterdam in World War II. After the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, Jewish people were held at the theater before being taken to transit camps and eventually concentration and extermination camps. It’s now the memorial component of the National Holocaust Museum.

Zlatni Rat Beach (Golden Horn or Golden Cape) is one of Croatia’s most beautiful and unique beaches. Located on the southern end of Brac Island, this narrow sliver of land juts out into the azure sea. Pebble beaches on both sides of this V-shaped promontory are perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and afternoon westerly winds make it a premiere windsurfing spot.

Founded in 1864, the National Gallery of Ireland holds works spanning the 13th to 21st century. In addition to its comprehensive collection of Irish art, including paintings by Jack B. Yeats (brother of poet W.B. Yeats), the gallery also has pieces by European artists such as Rembrandt, Titian, Goya, and Picasso.

The Amsterdam outpost of the Madame Tussauds wax museum empire is filled with painstakingly sculpted, life-size look-alikes, from Dutch royalty to internationally known figures in film, music, sports, and politics. Displays evolve with the times, but you can expect to see plenty of familiar faces, from musical icons like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift to movie stars such as George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.

The 17th-century Greyfriars Kirk is one of Edinburgh’s most historically important churches. The National Covenant was signed here in 1638, plunging Scotland into civil war. Exhibitions in the Kirk Museum document the church’s history, while the surrounding graveyard houses the tombs of notable historical figures.

Girona’s city walls trace their origins to Roman times, and you can step back into history on the Passeig de la Muralla (Wall Promenade). This walking route follows the restored sections of the city wall around some of the old town. Besides spectacular views of the cathedral and the Pyrenees, walking the walls is a great way to discover the old town.

This highly recognizable pyramidal structure on the Bygdøy Peninsula is dedicated to Norwegian polar exploration and houses the most famous Norwegian polar-exploration boat of all time, the icebreaker Fram, which explore polar regions from 1893 to 1912, and extraordinary features images from the daring explorations of the great Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen.