According to a third-century story of the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, several Christian men in Ephesus (present-day Selcuk, Turkey) sought sanctuary in a nearby cave to escape persecution by the Roman Emperor Trajan Decius. They fell asleep, waking some 250 years later and discovering that Christianity had become widely accepted in Ephesus. After natural deaths, the “seven sleepers” were buried in the same cave, which quickly became a pilgrimage site.
Suspected to be the one-time residence of King Abomelic, the last Moorish ruler of Ronda, Mondragón Palace is an example of traditional Mudéjar architecture found throughout Andalusia. Perched atop El Tajo Gorge, the palace has been renovated many times over the centuries and today features a mishmash of architectural styles.
The Curonian Spit is a thin, curved 61-mile (98-kilometer) long sand dune that separates the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon; the eponymous national park was created in 1991 to protect the unique beauty of these ever-changing dunes. The park provides an important habitat for migratory birds and rare plants, as well as many opportunities for hiking, cycling, and kayaking trips.
Covering 87 square miles (227 square kilometers), the Dilek Peninsula-Buyuk Menderes Delta National Park occupies a peninsula south of Kusadasi on Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) Aegean coast. Natural wonders abound here, from pebble beaches and wildlife to footpaths, ancient ruins, and a canyon hiking trail.
Right in the heart of Bratislava is the neoclassical Primate's Palace (Primaciálny Palác), with its pink facade. What was once the archbishop’s residence now serves as the seat of Bratislava’s mayor and hosts the city council. This architectural jewel is where Napoleon signed the Peace of Pressburg in 1805 after the Battle of Austerlitz.
In the heart of Toulouse, Saint-Sernin Basilica is an outstanding building, notable for being the largest Romanesque structure in Europe. For centuries it has welcomed pilgrims walking along the Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James.
Pablo Picasso’s life in Spain spanned nearly all of the country’s corners, but his former family home in the heart of Malaga’s old town is where you’ll find the Pablo Picasso Birthplace Museum (Museo Casa Natal de Picasso). It houses over 4,000 pieces by some 200 artists, including Picasso, and artifacts from his early life.
With its battlements, turrets, and arrow-slit windows, the neo-gothic Wray Castle is straight from a storybook. Originally built in 1840 for a Liverpudlian doctor and his heiress wife, the estate once served as a vacation home for the family of children’s author Beatrix Potter and is currently owned by the National Trust.
With gleaming white-and-blue buildings perched on a clifftop overlooking the glittering Aegean Sea, Fira (or Thera) is every bit the postcard star of Santorini. The island capital, the main port of call for holidaymakers, is famous for its stunning views, lively nightlife, and archaeological museums.
The largest square in Italy isn’t in Rome or Florence, but in the charming northern city of Padua. A turn through the oval-shaped Prato della Valle, considered one of the most beautiful public spaces in Italy, to admire its grassy central island encircled by an elegant statue-lined canal, is a must while visiting Padua.
The Czech Republic is famous for its fine crystal glassware, which travelers can admire, learn about, and purchase at Karlovy Vary’s Moser Glassworks. Founded in 1857, the glassworks produces a range of decorative and practical glass pieces using environmentally friendly techniques. Visitors can tour the museum and shop for fine glassware at the Moser Glassworks.
The ninth-century Basilica di Santa Prassede houses the remains of Saint Praxedes, known for helping Christians fleeing Roman persecution in the second century. Inside, intricate gold-flecked Byzantine mosaics cover the walls and ceilings, particularly above the altar and inside the Chapel of Saint Zeno (Cappella di San Zenone). A glass-enclosed relic—said to be a piece of the pillar Jesus was tied to while flogged—attracts religious pilgrims.
Standing proud on the western edge of Frankfurt’s central Römerberg square, Frankfurt City Hall (Romer) is both the city’s administrative headquarters and one of its most memorable landmarks. Characterized by its pink three-peaked façade, stepped gables and domed bell tower; it’s a regal feat of medieval architecture.
One of Zagreb’s most popular public parks, King Tomislav Square (Trg Kralja Tomislava), is named after the first king of Croatia and features an enormous equestrian statue of the ruler. Flanked on one side by the Central Station (Glavni Kolodvor) and on the other by the Art Pavilion (Umjetnicki Paviljon), it offers neoclassical beauty and a scenic place to unwind.
A popular meeting point in the center of Krakow’s Old Town, the Adam Mickiewicz Monument commemorates the famous Polish poet, who lived from 1798 to 1855. The statue, which depicts Mickiewicz surrounded by four artistic muses, was unveiled in 1898 to mark the centenary of the poet’s birth. It was then destroyed by the Nazis in World War II, but was painstakingly restored to its former glory in the 1950s.
In northeastern Italy, close to the Austrian border, the Dolomites form a stunning mountain range of jagged peaks, dramatic spires, and picturesque valleys. The Cinque Torri–a group of five tower-like rocks outside the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo—is one of the most famous attractions in the Dolomites and offers an array of outdoor recreation opportunities.
With a long and storied history dating back to the 13th century, the Vilnius Cathedral is a sacred landmark to the Lithuanian people, and the heart of the country’s Catholic spiritual life. After having been burnt and rebuilt several times, and surviving the Soviet occupation, the cathedral and belfry have undergone a thorough renovation since Lithuania’s independence in 1990.
A medieval gem in the UNESCO-listed Renaissance art city of Ferrara, the Estense Castle (Castello Estense ticks all the right boxes, with towers, dungeons, a moat and drawbridge, and the restored and renovated royal suites to explore. The most impressive sight in the city, this colossal castle is a must-see when visiting Ferrara.
St. Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche) holds a special place in Leipzig's history. Built in the 12th century, the German city’s oldest church hosted weekly Prayers for Peace that spearheaded the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, and—in a nod to Leipzig’s classical music heritage—once appointed Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach as its musical director.
Kolonaki Square is set beneath Mt. Lycabettus in the heart of the upmarket Kolonaki district, the luxe epicenter of modern-day Athens. A modern, compact, leafy square with minimalist fountains, it’s home to popular cafés, plus statues of the 19th-century Greek revolutionaries who give it the name you’ll find on most maps: Plateia Filikis Etaireias (Square of the Friendly Brotherhood).
A snow-coated wonderland perched high in the Vaud Alps of Western Switzerland, the Glacier 3000 resort is a one-stop destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Just an hour from Montreux, it offers spectacular mountain views, ample opportunities for hiking and skiing, and a huge range of adrenaline-fueled activities.
While it’s not a distillery, the Scotch Whisky Experience showcases the country’s beloved whisky to visitors from around the world. So if you want to know how whisky is made in Scotland, or learn about the differences between the world’s many whiskies, you’re in the right place. Entry includes a tour with at least one tasting, and the attraction also has an on-site whisky bar and restaurant that serves up seasonal Scottish food.
Via Monte Napoleone (sometimes written as Montenapoleone) is the most luxurious shopping street in the Italian fashion capital of Milan. It is lined with designer boutiques including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and Prada as well as many jewelry shops. The decadent drag is located in the heart of Milan’s Fashion Quarter and is known as the most expensive street in Europe.
Set in a grand 19th-century building, the Varna Archaeological Museum houses Bulgaria’s finest archaeology collection. Displays spread over 23,000 square feet (2,150 square meters) and run from Stone Age times to the 19th century. Highlights include some of the world’s oldest worked gold, dating back over 6,000 years.
Close to the Slovakian border in southern Poland, Pieniny National Park is best known for the Pieniny mountain range and the Dunajec River Gorge, where you can go rafting down the gentle river. Another highlight is the Three Crowns (Tri Koruny) peak, a mountain range that resembles its namesake.
Helsinki City Hall (Kaupungintalo) was designed as a hotel by German architect Carl Ludvig Engel in 1833. Today, modern glass structures have replaced many of the classical interiors, but the imperial blue-and-white facade remains, making the building a highlight of city tours. The city hall is a working administrative center, but occasionally hosts various events and exhibitions.
Formed by a massive volcanic eruption more than two millennia ago—and surrounded by surreal lava formations, mud pots, volcanic craters, and steaming fumaroles—Lake Mývatn remains geothermally active. The lake’s name comes from the swarming midges that fuel the local bird population.
Note: Pergamon Museum is temporarily closed. One of Germany’s most visited museums, Berlin’s Pergamon Museum is renowned for its impressive collection of art and antiquities from Turkey and the Middle East. Located on Berlin’s UNESCO-listed Museum Island, the Pergamon is split into three permanent exhibitions—the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Museum of Islamic Art—which together chronicle over 2,000 years of history.
The Barcelona Aquarium (L’Aquarium de Barcelona) sits right on the harbor in the heart of the old city and is one of Europe’s largest aquariums. The exhibits within provide a habitat for some 11,000 sea creatures representing 450 different species, and feature one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of sea life from the Mediterranean. Little wonder that the aquarium is among Barcelona’s top family-friendly attractions.
With its colorful painted buildings and boats passing by, Christian’s Harbor (Christianshavn) is one of Copenhagen’s most picturesque areas. Laid out as a town for the merchants that traded goods with other European cities, the area is now a thriving hub with homes, businesses, trendy cafes, and restaurants.
