Europe attractions

Concerts from a wide spectrum of genres take place at the Royal Festival Hall, but it’s perhaps best known as a classical music venue. This is the official home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, so among the music you’re likely to hear inside its huge auditorium are the works of Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky. The wider venue is open to the public and features a large foyer that’s always full of life, plus eateries, bars, and the National Poetry Library.

Rome’s Jewish community dates back more than 2,000 years, and the Jewish Museum of Rome (Museo Ebraico di Roma) records this rich history. Housed in the Great Synagogue of Rome (Tempio Maggiore di Roma), the museum’s seven rooms display precious artifacts, such as textiles, silver, and tombstones moved from the catacombs beneath the city, as well as sections dedicated to the 3-century ghetto period and Roman Jewish life after World War II.

The small settlement of Dalvik, tucked between one of Iceland’s longest and most stunning fjords and the rolling hills of Svarfaðardalur, serves as the jumping-off point for ferries to Grimsey Island. It’s also a destination in its own right for outdoor adventures like hiking, whale watching, golfing, and bird watching.

One of London’s few living museums, the Household Cavalry Museum offers insight into one of the oldest regiments within the British Army. This immersive, behind-the-scenes museum is located within Horse Guards, a historical building on Whitehall. Experience the Household Cavalry up close as you're invited to dress like a cavalryman, watch guard changes, and peek into the original 18th-century horse stables.

Forever synonymous with the lovable Paddington Bear—the star of Michael Bond’s children’s books and several blockbuster movies—Paddington Station is one of the city’s most famous train stations. Located in west London, the busy station serves both National Rail and London Underground trains, and offers high-speed rail links to Heathrow Airport. You can also shop for official toys and merchandise at the Paddington Bear shop.

The tiny Arctic Norwegian island of Sommarøy lures travelers with its white-sand beaches, rugged scenery, and endless summer days. Traditionally a fishing community, small fishing boats bob in the water, and red wooden buildings raised on stilts surround the harbor. It’s an easy day trip from Tromsø, whether to hike around the fjords, drive along the coast, or experience the midnight sun or northern lights.

One of a string of sandy beaches and bays lining Lanzarote’s southern coast, Papagayo Beach (Playa de Papagayo) lies within the Monumento Natural de Los Ajaches Park and is one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Visit the horseshoe-shaped bay cocooned between sea cliffs and blessed with swaths of pale gold sand for a relaxing day on the beach.

More than 500 years old, Château Margaux is one of France’s most esteemed wineries. Located in Bordeaux, the winery is one of only four Premier Cru Classé properties in the region. Château Margaux’s wines are some of the most expensive in the world.

According to Greek legend, Aphrodite, the goddess of fertility and love, watched her lover, Adonis, die in her arms here in this freshwater natural pool. Set beneath a tumbling waterfall and surrounded by verdant greenery, the site also features a statue of the two mythical lovers, which is said to boost the fertility of those who touch it.

Opened in 1870, Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló) carries passengers from Clark Adam Square and Szechenyi Chain Bridge up 200 feet (61 meters) to Buda Castle. Europe's second funicular railway was destroyed in World War II and reopened in 1986. Ride on a clear day to enjoy superb views of the Danube River and Budapest's west side.

The home of London’s working class during Victorian times, the birthplace of Cockney Rhyming Slang, and the stomping ground of Jack the Ripper—the East End, bounded by the River Lea and the River Thames, has long represented the grittier side of England’s capital city. Today, it’s shed its rough image to become one of the city’s coolest, most diverse, street-art-rich areas, which is well worth checking out.

Norway’s second-longest fjord, Hardangerfjord stretches nearly 110 miles (178 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean, and offers sightseers a range of highlights to discover. Some of the area’s must-sees include the massive Folgefonna glacier, as well as Troll’s Tongue (Trolltunga) rock, a popular hiking destination and selfie spot that’s poised 2,297 feet (700 meters) above Ringedalsvatnet Lake in Odda.

Named after the patron saint of Normandy and built by the Normans at the turn of the 12th century, St. Audoen’s Church is one of the oldest medieval churches in Dublin. An often overlooked historical gem, the church—part of which lies in ruins and part of which has been restored—offers insight into life in medieval Dublin.

Bisected by the wide turquoise ribbon of the Cetina River, the steep cliffs of Cetina Canyon form a striking landscape just a short drive outside of Split, Croatia’s 2nd-largest city. In a country lush with stunning nature, Cetina Canyon is one of the easiest to reach and offers many opportunities for hiking and adventure sports.

The chilling Edinburgh Dungeon takes visitors below street level and into the darkened bowels of the city. Here, among 360-degree sets, costumed actors recount gruesome tales from Scotland’s past, from the Burke and Hare murders to hangings at the Grassmarket. Special effects, two thrilling rides, and a disorientating mirror maze add to the fun.

Deep in the rock beneath Buda Castle, this former hospital played a central role in both the Siege of Budapest and the Hungarian Uprising, before being repurposed as a nuclear bunker during the early Cold War. Today, the Hospital in the Rock functions as a museum, offering insight into the hidden history of Hungary’s capital.

Also known as the Esplanade, Corfu’s Spianada is the largest town square in Greece. Located in front of the Old Fortress and home to a mix of Venetian, French, British, and Greek buildings, the square’s construction dates back to the 19th-century French occupation and it is both a popular tourist attraction and the liveliest part of town.

Home to the most complete collection of animal species anywhere in the world, the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium celebrates the diversity of the animal kingdom. You’ll find everything from giant pandas to hippos, jellyfish, and gorillas here. Famous residents include Knut the polar bear and Bao Bao the giant panda.

Starting life in the Middle Ages as a civic garbage tip, Freyung Square has morphed through the centuries into one of Vienna’s prettiest public piazzas. The triangular cobbled space is dominated by the Austriabrunnen (Austria Fountain and lined by the medieval monastery of Schottenkirche plus a smattering of elegant Baroque palaces.

This tiny bay, named for the 10th-century abbey that sits at the water’s edge, is one of the most picturesque nooks on the Ligurian coast. Accessible only by boat or a steep trail, San Fruttuoso is famed for its crystalline water, dramatic cliffs, and relaxed atmosphere that seems worlds away from crowded Portofino.

Built in 1866, Milan’s Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale) is the 2nd-largest cemetery in the city and the final resting place of wealthy folks and families including the Brunis, Bernocchis, and Camparis. The vast cemetery is an open-air museum featuring Italian sculptures, elaborate obelisks, and massive tombs commemorating the dead.

Set inside the former home of the Austrian neurologist at Berggasse 19 in Vienna, the Sigmund Freud Museum tells the story of Sigmund Freud via exhibitions of his possessions. Original furniture decorates the rooms that now serve as exhibits on Freud’s family life and his role as the founding father of psychoanalysis. It's a must-visit for travelers with an interest in psychology.

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a popular destination for hikers, snorkelers, and divers, the Berlengas archipelago is a collection of small islands and reefs off the coast of Peniche, Portugal. Only the largest of the islands, Berlenga Grande, is inhabited, and the unspoiled scenery and secret sandy coves draw visitors from far and wide. Fort St. John the Baptist is the island’s most popular attraction, connected to Berlenga Grande by a precarious stone causeway.

Using projections and special effects, this immersive exhibition focuses on the ecology of Loch Ness and the mysterious monster that supposedly swims its waters. Curious visitors find out about the lake habitat and the likelihood of a monster surviving here, as well as learning about previous monster hunts, research missions, and hoaxes.

The National Museum Zurich (Landesmuseum Zürich) is the go-to museum in Zurich for Swiss history and culture. The museum holds the country’s largest collection of artifacts from ancient Switzerland through the Middle Ages to the present day. One of Zurich’s most popular tourist destinations, the museum has collections so vast, you could easily spend a full day exploring them.

The National Roman Museum (Museo Nazionale Romano) has so many treasures that it needs not one, but four museums to display them. Each one is distinct. Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is most famous for its collection of Roman coins, the Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) for its Renaissance cloisters designed by Michelangelo, Palazzo Altemps for its ancient sculptures, and the Crypta Balbi for its archaeological artifacts and ongoing excavations.

The lake-studded glacial valley known as the Gap of Dunloe (Bearna an Choimín) is wedged between County Kerry’s Purple Mountain and MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range. The rugged natural scenery along the 7-mile (11-kilometer) paved mountain pass made it a magnet for sublime-seeking, 19th-century, Romantic writers such as William Thackeray and Alfred Lord Tennyson, who waxed lyrical about its beauty. Despite its popularity, the landscape remains as unspoiled as ever.

One of several attractions within Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Félix Candela–designed Oceanografic (L’Oceanogràfic) is not only architecturally impressive. It also ranks among the world’s best aquariums, with more than 45,000 animals representing over 500 species from the world’s main marine ecosystems.

Of the many historic churches in Naples, San Domenico Maggiore is one of the finest, with a Gothic exterior and baroque flourishes inside. In addition to the fortresslike facade and soaring interior, visitors can admire 14th-century frescoes by Pietro Cavallini in the Brancaccio Chapel and the ornate Treasure Chamber.

Founded way back in 1368, this historic university is Germany’s oldest—and one of its most prestigious. Heidelberg University is spread across three campuses. But the baroque-era Old University, built in the early 18th century, is compact and contains several popular attractions. These include the University Museum, the university library, the graffiti-covered student prison, and the historic lecture and assembly halls.