The Best Places to Visit in Europe, from the Classics to the Up-and-Comers
You may already know top cities like London and Paris, but Europe has plenty of other great places to discover - the continent has more than 40 countries, after all. Explore lesser-known gems like Bruges and Tallinn, and fall in love all over again with classic like Santorini and Venice. Read on for all the top places to visit in Europe, but beware: This list will inspire major wanderlust!
This gorgeous walled city on the Adriatic Sea has medieval roots, so it's little wonder it doubled as King's Landing in Game of Thrones. Wander its cobbled streets, walk along its ancient stone walls, explore monasteries and Renaissance churches, dine in outdoor cafes, and kick back on beaches like Banje, just outside the walls.
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Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals (a sunset boat cruise along the Prinsengracht is a must), but it's also one of the best places to visit in Europe for cultural attractions. Any trip should include stops at the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, home to Rembrandt's masterpiece The Night Watch.
Lisbon should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Europe. This Iberian hotspot has it all: centuries-old castles, modern architecture, top-notch museums like the Berardo Collection, a buzzing culinary scene (don't miss the shrimp ceviche at A Cevicheria), and plenty of places to hear blues-like fado music.
It's hard not to be blown away by Santorini, perhaps the most beautiful of all the Greek Islands. You'll never tire of gazing at the whitewashed buildings tucked into the hillsides, but there are also black-sand beaches to unwind on, Roman ruins to explore, and charming tavernas where you can dine on freshly grilled seafood.
The West of Ireland - especially in counties Clare, Galway, and Mayo - is certainly one of the best places to visit in Europe. Stay in a castle hotel, take scenic drives beside lush green hills and bogs, listen to traditional Irish music in the pubs of Galway City, and blow up your Instagram with shots of the 702-foot-high Cliffs of Moher.
There really isn't much that Paris doesn't have, making it one of Europe's must-visit cities. Just a sprinkling of the iconic things to do in the City of Light include a tour of the Louvre, a stroll along the Seine, and a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Add amazing shopping, to-die-for cuisine, wine bars, and swanky hotels, and you get the picture.
The Hungarian capital is very much on people’s radars lately. In addition to having some of the most beautiful buildings in Europe, including a Baroque-style castle and the massive gothic-style Parliament, Budapest is also known for it thermal baths. The most famous is the Gellért Baths, featuring indoor and outdoor pools.
This Scandinavian stunner was another European city that was on everyone's travel radars in 2018. With its lunar-looking lava fields, glaciers, and geothermic pools, Iceland is a nature lover's paradise (little wonder Game of Thrones has filmed here). Blue Lagoon and Gullfoss Waterfall are top attractions, and in Reykjavik, you can dine at the Michelin-starred Dill.
It's easy to fall for Copenhagen, one of Europe's prettiest cities. Its most famous street is Nyhavn, lined with brightly-colored buildings. Amalienborg Palace, the royal family's residence, is nearby. Its food scene is second to none - René Redzepi's legendary Noma recently reopened after being closed for a year.
One-of-a-kind attractions like Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben (along with modern Michelin-starred restaurants and cozy wood-lined pubs for a pint and a plate of fish and chips) all combine to make London one of the very best places to visit on any trip to Europe. And don't forget afternoon tea!
To get the flavor of Barcelona, stroll the Ramblas, which starts at Plaza Catalunya and ends at the port. Stop for lunch (tapas and sangria, anyone?) along the way, then check out the famous Gaudi-designed La Sagrada Familia. Take a break from touring on one of the city's beaches, and have a sunset drink in a trendy rooftop bar.
If you haven't yet been to Scotland, Edinburgh should be on your list of places to visit in Europe. Edinburgh Castle, the 900-year-old hilltop fortress, is worth the trip alone. Another top attraction is the Royal Mile, which is lined with kilt-making shops and historic pubs, where a stop for a wee dram of single-malt whisky is a must.
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg has a grandeur that few cities in Europe can match. Explore Baroque palaces, gold-domed churches, and world-class museums like the Hermitage, where you can marvel at the Imperial jewels. In the restaurants along Nevsky Prospekt, sample the local caviar and vodka.
In a country known for fjords, Geirangerfjord tops the list, so you know it must be pretty special. One of the best ways to see this glacial waterway and its many waterfalls cascading down forest-covered mountains is to take a scenic cruise. Kayaking, biking, hiking, or even a scenic helicopter tour are other options.
One of Europe's up-and-coming cities is Kraków, which is known for its medieval architecture. In the Old Town, take a tour of the 13th-century Wawel Castle, visit the Wawel Cathedral, and stroll the main square (the largest in Europe). There are also hipster hangouts like Forum Przestrzenie, in a former Soviet-era hotel.
In Florence, the capital of Tuscany, immerse yourself in the beauty of the Renaissance with visits to the Accadamia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David statue and the Uffizi Gallery to see Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Shop for leather bags, perfume, and jewelry, and plan on overdoing it on pasta, bistecca all Fiorentina, prosecco, and gelato.
Istanbul sits on two continents (Europe and Asia), but many of its signature sites, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, are on the European side. Once you're done exploring, sip Turkish coffee, and when the sun sets, have dinner in the trendy areas of Galata and Karak?y.
Add up-and-coming Eastern Europe cities like the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to your travel list. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a must for architectural buffs (there are also Roman ruins right in the city center!), and Vitosha Boulevard is the prime shopping street. Be sure to take a day trip to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2 hours from Sofia.
One of the best places to visit in Europe for canals is ... Bruges? Yes! This beautiful Belgium city has its own charming canal system, where you can take a scenic cruise to see its historic churches and half-timbered medieval buildings. Afterward, lunch on moules frites and a Belgian beer at a cafe in 13th-century Market Square.
One of the best places to visit in northern Europe is the Estonian capital of Tallinn, which is straight out of a medieval fantasy, complete with turreted walls and spired churches. For an old-world experience, dine in Olde Hansa, in a former 15th century merchant’s home, and for a more hipster vibe, head to places like F-hoone and Noa.
This Swiss city has much more than sleek buildings and buttoned-up bankers. Zurich's Old Town is filled with beautiful Baroque buildings, photo-worthy bridges spanning the Limmat River, and buzzy outdoor cafes. You can also shop along the elegant Bahnhofstrasse and take a scenic boat cruise around Lake Zurich.
Venice, with its gondola-filled canals, never fails to inspire. The crowds can get overwhelming, especially around St. Mark's Square, home of the domed basilica and the Grand Canal, but fan out from those tourist-rich areas, and you'll find more space to take in the city's charm, along with less-crowded tavernas and wine bars.
If you like beer, you've come to the right place. Munich has some of Europe's best beer halls, where you can sip steins of Augustiner Brau and snack on pretzels (Oktoberfest takes place here!). When not imbibing, visit the Gothic-style Rathaus (City Hall) with its beloved glockenspiel that chimes several times a day, and the Lenbachhaus museum, showcasing contemporary art.
You'll feel like you've stepped back in time during a visit to Prague, with its cobbled lanes, medieval squares, the fairy-tale Prague Castle, and the pedestrian-only Charles Bridge spanning the Vlata River. Its food and drink scene has exploded - a few hotspots include Michelin-starred La Degustation and Lokál beer hall.
You may already know top cities like London and Paris, but Europe has plenty of other great places to discover - the continent has more than 40 countries, after all. Explore lesser-known gems like Bruges and Tallinn, and fall in love all over again with classic like Santorini and Venice. Read on for all the top places to visit in Europe, but beware: This list will inspire major wanderlust!
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