10 Tours That Celebrate Women’s History in Europe

From Joan of Arc, who led a French army to victory only to be burned at the stake for heresy, witchcraft, and wearing male clothing, to Marie Curie, one of the world’s most brilliant scientists and the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize—women have long been making history in Europe, with or without their rights and achievements being recognized.
Celebrate these trailblazing women, and their social, cultural, economic, and political accomplishments, on these tours of major European cities.
1. Explore the women of Westminster in London, England
Westminster’s landmarks, from Trafalgar Square to Big Ben, spark stories of London’s pioneering women on this walking tour. Learn about the city’s queens, nurses, suffragists and suffragettes, and other historymakers, while also discovering London’s can’t-miss and lesser-known sights.
2. Learn about the great women of history in Paris, France
3. Discover more about Anne Frank in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Few diaries have had the enduring impact of Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl. Anne’s account of her family’s 761 days in hiding, which she wrote aged 13–15, is one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust. This private tour of Amsterdam explores the young diarist’s life before the annex, and includes visits to her family home and the store her diary was purchased from.
4. Travel back in time in Italy with the women of Ancient Rome
Often forgotten and untold, women played a big role in the rise of Ancient Rome—from key female figures in the monarchy, to caretakers and influential wives. This tour walks you through the role women played in the development of this advanced civilization and what their life would have been like.
5. Get to grips with the powerful women of Edinburgh, Scotland
Witches, mothers, queens, and doctors all feature in the narrative of this tour dedicated to Edinburgh’s notable and often-forgotten women. Start from Greyfriars Kirkyard and hear about the likes of Eliza Wigham, an abolitionist who blazed a trail, and Flora MacDonald, who heroically rescued Bonnie Prince Charlie.
6. Delve deep into Whitechapel womens’ history in London, England
This tour walks you through some of London's top sites, but it also highlights the stories of the women who broke the mold and fearlessly showcased their bravery, such as those involved in the WWI resistance, female Philanthropists of the late 1800s, and those that partook in the anarchistic movement of the 1890s.
7. Uncover the hidden history of women in Seville, Spain
Look past the Alcázar and Plaza de España on this tour that tells Seville’s history from a female perspective. Venture off the beaten path to visit sites associated with the Andalucian capital’s most notable women, and hear the stories that traditional sightseeing experiences overlook.
8. Get to know the remarkable women of Vilnius, Lithuania
Did you know women outnumber men in Vilnius by almost 20 percent? (Fun fact: Lithuania also has more women scientists and engineers than men.) This tour, which begins at Vilnius Cathedral and visits top sights such as the Presidential Palace, showcases the brilliant women who influenced the city over the centuries, including realist female author Žemaitė.
9. Follow in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette at Versailles, France
The Palace of Versailles is top of the list for travelers planning a day trip from Paris, but Marie-Antoinette's Estate—located within the Gardens of Versailles—less so. Her name is famously associated with decadence, but there’s more to Marie Antoinette’s story. On this tour, you’ll visit her palace and its grounds, and separate the facts from the fiction—for example, she never said “Let them eat cake.”—surrounding the teenage queen.
10. See what the women of Vienna, Austria have in store
Find out about Vienna’s most influential women on this interactive riddle hunt that leads from the statue of Maria Theresa (the only female ruler in the House of Habsburg) to sites connected with the women who shaped Austria. Fun, games, a mysterious treasure chest, and women’s history? Sign us up.
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