Europe attractions

One of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme)—actually in Rome’s eastern Esquilino neighborhood—houses important relics, long believed to have been brought from the Holy Land. Relics said to be in its care include pieces of the True Cross, a nail from the crucifixion, thorns from the crown, and small pieces of the Grotto of the Nativity and the Holy Sepulchre. The church is a must for visitors of Christian faith or those curious about religious artifacts.

Syracuse’s Greek Theater (Teatro Greco) was one of the largest in the world when it was constructed, able to seat up the 16,000 spectators. Hewn directly from the side of the Temenite Hill overlooking the Sicilian countryside, the stone theater is a highlight of the UNESCO-listed Neapolis Archaeological Park.

Near the Church of St. Donatus, in the city of Zadar, Croatia, you’ll find the remnants of an ancient Roman marketplace. Built between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD, the forum is one of the largest of its kind east of the Adriatic.

Feskekorka—which translates as the ‘Fish Church’—has been part of local life in Gothenburg since 1874, making it the city’s oldest market hall. Housed in a church-inspired building along the riverfront, the lively fish market is crammed with stalls selling fresh-off-the-boat fish and seafood.

Lecce is famous for its sumptuous baroque architecture, and the Lecce cathedral (Duomo di Lecce) is one of the most ornate examples. Its magnificently carved and adorned Leccese-stone facade is a 17th-century masterpiece and one of the highlights of this city on Puglia’s Salento peninsula.

In a city of Gothic and baroque splendor, Prague’s late-1980s Žižkov Television Tower (Žižkovský Vysílac) stands out like a space-age sore thumb—a rather alluring thumb. Visit for high panoramic views of both the historic and modern neighborhoods of Prague and to check out Czech artist David Černý’s crawling Babies sculptures that adorn its exterior.

The Hofkirche (also known as the Church of St. Leodegar) in Lucerne is a mainly 17th-century structure, with two distinctive towers that belonged to an older building on the site. This Roman Catholic Church is one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Switzerland.

Rising from a pretty square in Palma Old Town, the Basilica de Sant Francesc is a vision in sandstone. Founded in 1281 as a monastery and boasting a Gothic cloister and 17th-century baroque facade, the church is one of Mallorca’s most beautiful and historically significant. It has been known as one of the most famous churches on Palma since the Middle Ages.

In Brixton, there’s never a quiet moment. This is the place of reggae buskers banging steel drums, sidewalk preachers, and wafts of exotic food wherever you walk. And, while it was once the bad boy of London’s central neighborhoods with a reputation for street crime, Brixton today feels safer, with a strong community spirit and a medley of independent shops, eateries, and live music venues that reflect the neighborhood’s diversity.

Inspired by the Paris Opera House and named after the "Mozart of Spain"—Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga—the 19th-century Arriaga Theater (Teatro Arriaga) is a lavish neo-baroque building. Here, catch a play, opera, or dance recital in the 1,200-seat theater, which is dominated by plush red velvet seating, elaborate crown molding, and gold detailing.

For centuries, Amalfi was one of the most important producers of paper in Europe, and water-powered paper mills lined the river running through the center of town. See how these ingenious mills worked and learn about the history and production of Amalfi’s prestigious paper at the Paper Museum, located in a fully functioning historic mill.

Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is the oldest public museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the world. It’s home to one of the most important collections of art and archaeology in the world, spanning civilizations both Eastern and Western and from the Neolithic era to the present day.

Surrounded by a blanket of emerald-green forest and the Bicegi Mountains, Cantacuzino Castle (Castelul Cantacuzino) boasts lavish rooms, an art gallery, and lush gardens filled with sculptures, grottoes, and fountains. Enjoy family-friendly fun on an adventure course with archery, ziplines, and a tree-climbing course.

Set around a boat-filled harbor facing across the sapphire channel to Albania, this once sleepy fishing village is now a lively tourist getaway. As well as ample tavernas and bars, Kassiopi also has beautiful beaches, tranquil headland trails, and a ruined Byzantine castle perched on a hillside overlooking the village.

History and modernity mingle harmoniously in Viana do Castelo, a quieter riverside alternative to Guimarães or Braga. Highlights of this seafood-rich city just outside Porto include the neo-Byzantine Santuário de Santa Luzia, a contemporary marina, a medieval downtown, and proximity to some of the region’s best beaches.

Perched on a rocky outcrop in the Austrian Alps south of the city of Salzburg, the ancient Hohenwerfen Fortress offers a unique look at almost a thousand years of history in the region.

Across the river from Kazimierz, Krakow’s Jewish Quarter, Podgórze has a tragic past. It was here that Nazi Germans forced Jews into a ghetto, then transported them to concentration camps. Most travelers come here for World War II sights, particularly Oskar Schindler’s Factory, home of the story retold in the film Schindler’s List.

The Lope de Vega museum is the former home of one of Spain’s most celebrated writers, Félix Lope de Vega Carpio. A 16th-century playwright from Madrid, he is known as Spain’s answer to Shakespeare. The house has been carefully restored and preserved, giving a unique insight into life during the Spanish Baroque period.

Cactuses become art in this César Manrique–designed garden on Lanzarote, whose whimsical landscape is filled with desert plants from around the globe. In addition to thousands of cactus plants, the Jardín de Cactus has a historic windmill, art installations, and a café with an inviting patio.

Steps away from Piazza San Marco is one of Venice's most artistically dazzling places of worship, the Church of San Zaccaria. Looking out over a serene square, this hidden gem dates back to the 9th century, with a layer cake–like facade designed during the Venetian Renaissance. Inside, you’ll find a museum’s worth of art, including a striking altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini, and an eerie crypt that’s visitable despite being flooded for most of the year.

Stretching along the west bank of the Rhine River and presided over by the UNESCO-listed Cologne Cathedral, the Old Town (Altstadt) is both the navigational and historical heart of Cologne. With its colorful old buildings, beautiful Romanesque churches, and scenic riverside promenades, it’s an obvious starting point for any exploration of the city.

Located on a hilltop over the Alpsee and Schwansee lakes, the Hohenschwangau Castle (Schloss Hohenschwangau) is a dramatic 19th-century fortress built by the king of Bavaria. Often overshadowed by its neighbor, the Neuschwanstein Castle, the Hohenschwangau is worth a visit for its dazzling interior decor and striking views of the Alpsee and surrounding mountains.

Part cosmopolitan seaside resort, part laid-back surf town, Biarritz has been one of Europe’s top summertime destinations for centuries. With pristine sandy beaches, luxurious villas, a trendy French-Basque food scene, and some of the best surf in Europe, Biarritz is a true gem on the Atlantic Coast.

Known for its gold-leaf dome from outside and its Gustav Klimt-created Beethoven Frieze inside, the Vienna Secession is a treat of intriguing architecture and art. While the big draw is the Beethoven Frieze—an interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9—the artist-run building hosts continually changing contemporary art exhibitions.

The Sé Cathedral of Funchal (Sé Catedral do Funchal), also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, is Madeira’s key religious landmark. Built in the late 15th century, the cathedral is one of the island’s longest-standing buildings and features classically Madeiran design elements, including volcanic rocks.

Crete is renowned for being a divinely sun-baked Greek Island, boasting great beaches and hot weather—but it’s less known for its spectacular White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Found in the west of the island, the mountains are a paradise for hikers and nature spotters when not dusted with snow in winter and early spring.

Spearheading the rejuvenation of the Willemdok harbor area, Museum aan de Stroom (which translates as “Museum on the River”) is acclaimed equally for its stellar architecture by Neutelings Riedijk and its well-curated exhibitions about the history and culture of Antwerp. Towering 60 meters (197 feet) above the harbor, the building comprises layers of bright-red sandstone bricks held together with glass and steel.

The lifeblood of Mostar, the Neretva River (Rijeka Neretva) curls its way through the town's heart and has served as a geographic and political divider over the years. Winding its way down from the Dinaric Alps, it’s Bosnia and Herzegovina’s longest river, flowing for 141 miles (225 kilometers) through lakes, gorges, and historic towns.

The Gothic Holsten Gate once protected Lübeck from enemy attacks; today, its slightly wonky red-bricked twin towers provide the city with a symbolic landmark that everyone wants to see. To go beyond the photo op, you can step inside to visit the Holstentor Museum, featuring exhibitions about Lübeck’s trade history and the medieval Hanseatic League.

If you’ve visited one of the many Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attractions around the world, then you know exactly what to expect: the unexpected. The self-styled odditorium is known for its astonishing artifacts, bizarre stories, and quirky interactive exhibitions. At Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Amsterdam, highlights include a gigantic robot made of car parts, a shrunken head from the Amazon rain forest, and the world’s longest fingernails.