Europe attractions

The symbol of Capri—and one of the island’s most striking natural features—this trio of soaring rock spurs jutting out from the waters of the Mediterranean are a dramatic sight from both land and sea. Take in their craggy beauty from one of the island’s many scenic overlooks, or sail past on a boat tour.

Located in southern Iceland, Vatnajokull National Park is renowned for its incredibly diverse and dramatic scenery, including glacial plateaus, active volcanoes, towering ice caps, black-sand beaches, and terrain that is bubbling with geothermal activity. Vatnajokull glacier, the continent’s largest glacier, dominates the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also contains Iceland’s highest mountain (Oraefajokull) and its deepest lake (Jokulsarlon).

Perched high above the Danube River, Buda Castle is one of Budapest’s most photographed landmarks. The magnificent palace complex dates back to the 13th century, but has been rebuilt many times over the centuries, most recently in a neo-baroque style. Today, visitors come here to wander the castle grounds, explore museums and courtyards, and take in spectacular panoramic views of Budapest.

Soaring up out of the bay, Mont-St-Michel seems as dramatic today as it must have been to its medieval pilgrims, who braved quicksand and strong tidal waves to reach it. Today, visitors cross the bay by easier means (shuttle bus or walking with a guide) to see historical treasures inside its intact fortress walls. For many, a highlight of the UNESCO–listed island is the abbey, where nuns and monks keep Mont-St-Michel’s religious heritage alive.

Trafalgar Square is in the heart of Westminster, and it’s known for being one of the city’s most recognizable public spaces. With striking architecture—including Nelson’s Column and grand fountains—it also has several notable buildings nearby, such as the National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Visitors come to meet, relax, or take part in the many events, parades, protests, and public celebrations that often fill the square, making it a lively gathering place year-round.

Southern Spain’s cultural landscapes have been shaped by centuries of Moorish and Catholic influence, but few places exemplify this influence as beautifully as the Royal Alcázar of Seville (Real Alcázar de Sevilla). Highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s sprawling complex include the Palace of King Pedro (Palacio del Rey Don Pedro), home to intricate Mudéjar plasterwork, and the sublime sunken garden, Courtyard of the Maidens (Patio de las Doncellas).

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is a beautiful baroque structure with more than 3,000 rooms, making it one of Europe's largest royal residences. Although the Spanish royal family no longer lives here, it remains the official state residence and is used for ceremonies and events. With opulent halls, grand staircases, and art-filled galleries, it's a popular place for tourists in Madrid to get a peek into Spain's royal history.

The towering vertical cliffs of Meteora have offered a protected place to pursue spiritual contemplation for centuries. The first hermit monks lived up in caves, but eventually 24 Byzantine monasteries were built atop the imposing rock formations—six of which remain today. Part natural wonder, part man-made marvel, the dramatic locale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular attraction in Greece.

Once a working-class neighborhood, the Jordaan in central Amsterdam has become an upscale enclave favored by artists and designers. Grand 17th-century houses, art galleries, specialty shops, music venues, cafés, and restaurants line the leafy canals in this quintessential Amsterdam neighborhood, which attracts tourists and locals alike. Its most famous attraction is the Anne Frank House on the edge of the district.

A vast landscape of hills and mountains, green valleys, mist-shrouded lochs, and shady woodland trails, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park makes an easy rural retreat from Scotland’s biggest city. North of Glasgow, the park serves as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Its dramatic focal point is Loch Lomond, Britain’s largest lake by land area, and one celebrated in a traditional song.

Scotland's second largest island, covering an area more than twice that of Singapore, the Isle of Skye is a pocket of wilderness linked to the coast of the West Highlands by the Skye Bridge. With its dramatic sea cliffs, windswept valleys, theatrical rock formations, and glittering pools, waterfalls, and lochs, the island is a treat for nature lovers and film-makers alike.

The coastline of Capri is dotted with unique sea caves, and though the Blue Grotto may be the most famous, the White Grotto is one of the most spectacular. Named for the white stalactites that hang from its roof and the layers of calcareous material that coat its sides, this cavern is a popular stop on boat tours of the island.

Originally built in the 16th century as the Church of Santa Engracia, the National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional) is now the burial place of many notable Portuguese personages, including fado superstar Amália Rodrigues, footballer Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, and a number of politicians. The vast white structure is hard to miss from anywhere in Lisbon’s Alfama district, and its interiors feature beautiful Italian marble.

Built in 532 as one of the world’s largest places of worship, the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) may have shifted its identity with the times, but it has never lost its grandeur. Converted from an Orthodox Christian cathedral to a mosque during the Ottoman period, the pink-hued Old City building is part of Istanbul’s Historic Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include its huge central dome and Byzantine architecture.

Founded some 150 years ago, the Academy of Athens (Akadimía Athinón) is one of Greece's most prestigious research institutions. Inspired by the academy that Plato established in the 4th century, the landmark is part of the Athenian Trilogy complex, which also includes the University of Athens and the National Library of Greece. While members of the public have limited access to the landmark, it's worth stopping by to admire its grand, neoclassical design.

Running through the center of Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia is one of the city’s most beautiful—and expensive—avenues. Barcelona’s answer to Paris’ Champs-Élysées, the thoroughfare links the Plaça de Catalunya to the eponymous Gràcia neighborhood. It’s home to a number of fantastic modernista and art nouveau buildings, including Gaudí’s La Pedrera (Casa Milà) and Casa Batlló, both of which hold UNESCO World Heritage status.

Flanked by the Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts skyscrapers, Port Olímpic was built as part of the area’s redevelopment in preparation for Barcelona’s 1992 Olympics. Thanks to its proximity to the beach and public art, including Frank Gehry’s shimmering Peix sculpture, it has become one of the most popular leisure areas in the city. The marina is the perfect place to dine and drink, overlooking multimillion-dollar yachts.

The Santorini volcano exploded around 1600 BC, blowing away more than half the island of Thera and creating a submerged caldera. That caldera is now surrounded by the Santorini archipelago in the Cyclades island group, which includes the famous bow-shaped island of Santorini, plus the volcanic islets Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni—where travelers visit to see rocky, volcanic craters that continue to puff steam.

One of several natural sea caves along Capri's rugged coastline, the Green Grotto (Grotta Verde) is often overshadowed by the island’s famous Blue Grotto, yet it offers a natural light show worth catching. Cruise inside by boat to catch the unique emerald light that filters through the water and reflects off the walls, creating a striking, dreamy atmosphere inside. You can even take a dip—unlike at the Blue Grotto, swimming is allowed here.

Located above Omaha Beach, just outside Bayeux, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a moving World War II-era site. It’s the final resting place of almost 9,400 soldiers, the vast majority of whom lost their lives fighting the D-Day battles in Normandy in June 1944. Other WWII heroes are buried here as well, and 1,600 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

Piazza del Popolo is one of Rome’s largest public squares, marking the start of the ancient Via Flaminia. One side is anchored by the twin Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto churches. The 15th-century Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo—home to works by Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio—sits opposite, with a towering Egyptian obelisk marking the center. Don’t miss the scenic overlook from Pincio Gardens, connected by a switchback lane and pedestrian stairs.

The Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) is a wooden drawbridge crossing the Amstel River featuring low arches that are illuminated with glistening lights at night. The original bridge was so skinny that it was only suitable for pedestrians and dated back to at least 1640. Today’s incarnation was completed in 1871 and is a wider replacement for the original structure.

Delphi is one of Greece’s most famous archaeological sites, with its remarkably preserved ruins dotted along the southern slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The town has drawn visitors since the eighth century BC, when pilgrims flocked to the Temple of Apollo to ask for guidance from its oracle, Pythia. Aside from its UNESCO-listed ruins—which also include a theater, stadium, and treasury—Delphi is known for its serene natural beauty, with opportunities for skiing and hiking nearby.

Hailed as one of the prettiest places in Portugal, Óbidos is a medieval town encircled by fortified walls. It’s known as the Wedding Present Town, because Portuguese kings often gave Óbidos to their wives as part of their dowry, and it boasts a cluster of Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque churches. Its whitewashed historical center is immensely photogenic, studded with blue-and-white azulejo (ceramic tile) murals.

Stretching 82 feet (25 meters) across the Skógá River and plunging 197 feet (60 meters) down a lush cliff, Skógafoss clocks in as one of Iceland’s biggest, most picturesque waterfalls. Its clouds of spray regularly create vivid rainbows, much to the delight of photographers, while fishermen flock to the waterway for its char and salmon. Said to be the site of a hidden Viking treasure, the waterfall is also the subject of local folklore.

The Bosphorus Strait defines Istanbul. Running through the heart of the world’s only city that spans two continents, the mighty waterway is the dividing line between Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Dotted with parks and elaborate Ottoman mansions, including Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi) and Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi), and spanned by three intercontinental bridges, a Bosphorus cruise is a must for any visit to Turkey’s largest city.

The House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi) near Ephesus is believed by many to be the place where the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, spent her final days. Since its discovery in the 19th century and a papal endorsement, the stone home has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims, many seeking the alleged healing properties of the spring that runs beneath it.

The UNESCO World Heritage–listed Jerónimos Monastery is one of Lisbon’s most elaborate buildings. Inspired by Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India, the monument is a feast of architectural delights; its cloisters exemplify the Manueline style, while the stained-glass windows and intricate carvings within the Church of Santa Maria are another highlight.

Amsterdam’s 17th-century Westerkerk (Western Church) is as known for its architecture, including a spire that measures some 280 feet (85 meters), as it is for its history. Rembrandt was buried here, and in her diaries Anne Frank wrote about the church’s clock chime—one of the few outside-world experiences she had while hiding from the Nazis.

Standing tall in the center of the Gothic Quarter, the Barcelona Cathedral (Catedral de Barcelona) is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona and an unmissable landmark of the city. With richly decorated spires that stand out in the skyline, the 13th-century structure is known for its Gothic architecture, stained-glass windows, and tree-filled cloister, where 13 white geese wander in honor of St. Eulàlia, martyred at 13 years old.