Top best places of Europe
Although it is the world’s second-smallest continent, Europe welcomes more than half of all the tourists
worldwide. In fact, 7 of the 10 most visited countries in the world are European
nations. It’s easy to see why; a well-preserved cultural heritage, rich
history, safety, and efficient infrastructure makes visiting Europe a breeze.
Here’s a look at the best places to visit in Europe:
Paris:
Songs laud Paris in the springtime, but any time of year is a good time to
visit this riveting city on the River Seine. It’s a city loaded to the brim
with history, culture, great food, and high fashion. The iconic Eiffel Tower is one landmark you won’t
want to miss. The Louvre houses one of the greatest art collections in the
world. Its great churches include Sacred Heart and Notre Dame. When it comes to
opulence, there’s Versailles with its famed Hall of Mirrors.
Rome:
The ancient Romans established outposts as far away as Great Britain. They
didn’t ignore their home city, however, when it came to building great
monuments. One must-see landmark is the Colosseum,
an arena that could hold up to 80,000 people for gladiator contests. One of the
biggest draws is a tiny country inside the city: The Vatican City, with
its impressive St. Peter’s Basilica with art provided by Michelangelo.
Plitvice Lakes:
The Plitvice Lakes are so pretty,
officials turned them into a national park. Located in central Croatia, Plitvice Lakes consists of 16 lakes
that attract more than a million visitors a year. The lakes are surrounded by
lush forests and connected by waterfalls
cascading down from one lake to another. The lakes are divided into two
sections, lower and upper, because of the difference in elevation. The best way
to see the lakes is walking; on the route, you might even see some wildlife.
Budapest.
Budapest was already an
established city when the Hungarians took over in the ninth century. Today, Budapest is the country’s capital and
largest city. In between these two events, Budapest
was ruled by the Mongols and Ottomans, among others. Considered one of the
most beautiful cities in Europe, Budapest
is home to the Museum of Fine Arts with its collection of more than 100,000
works. Be sure to visit the centrally located Old Town with its many museums,
churches, palaces, and Parliament buildings.
Neuschwanstein Castle:
“Fairy tale castle” is a phrase that aptly describes Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps. This 19th century Romanesque Revival castle looks like it just stepped out of a fairy tale; some say Neuschwanstein provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The castle was built as a retreat for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who viewed it as a romanticization of the middle Ages The castle was built of brick, then covered in rock, including the white limestone that is visible from afar.
Vienna:
As the former seat of the
Hapsburg Empire, Vienna is awash
with impressive imperial buildings and palaces, which so comprehensively convey
the wealth and power of its former monarchs. Now the capital of Austria, the
city is a delight to get lost in. Nicknamed ‘the City of Music’, the names of its famous residents roll off the
tongue, with Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert among those who once graced its
streets.
Stonehenge:
You have to marvel at the
determination of prehistoric man when you look at Stonehenge. Construction started about 3000 BC on what was
originally burial grounds. Huge monoliths, weighing 25 tons, were dragged 150
miles to the site a few hundred years later. It’s not known exactly how many
humungous rocks were moved to a field near Amesbury but there are 13 standing
today. It’s also not known why Stonehenge
was built, but many believe this great English landmark is associated with
early astrology.
Matterhorn:
Egypt may have its pyramids, but Italy and Switzerland have a nature-made pyramid of
their own: the Matterhorn. At 14,692
feet high, this famous mountain is one of the highest in Europe. The mountain
has four faces, each equally
Rugged:
The legendary mountain has been
popular with climbers since the first ascent in 1865; during the summer 150
people a day try to climb it. Couch potatoes may be just as happy to stay below
and gaze in awe at the summit playing hide and seek with the clouds.
Lisbon:
The Portuguese capital of Lisbon lies on the Tagus River along
the Atlantic coast. It is this location that encouraged explorers to sail far
and wide around the world in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. One of the
things you’ll want to see is Belem Tower, a 16th-century fortress on the Tagus’
north bank. If you’re looking for good views of old Lisbon, head to Saint George Castle that was built on a hilltop
by the Moors.
Gullfoss:
You probably don’t know too many
people who’ve been to Iceland. But it may be worth a trip there to visit the
spectacular Gullfoss waterfalls.
Located in southern Iceland, Gullfoss
is one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions. At times it almost appears
glacier-like, appropriate, perhaps, since it is fed by a glacier. The
waterfalls begins just after the Ölfusá River
makes a perpendicular turn and then cascades down a three-step staircase into a
canyon that is 115 feet deep.
Athens:
Athens, a city that’s been
inhabited since the fifth century BC, gave the world the concept of democracy
and is the birthplace of Western civilization. Many of the city’s major
landmarks can be found in the old town, particularly around
The Acropolis:
The list includes the temple of Zeus; the Theatre of Dionysus
where Sophocles works were performed and the Parthenon, which sits atop the Acropolis.
Bay of Kotor:
When you’re hungry for
breathtaking scenery, feast your eyes on Kotor
Bay in southwestern Montenegro. This bay off the Adriatic is just downright
picturesque: hemmed in by mountains, with quaint villages sandwiched between
the cliffs and the gorgeous blue water. Several well-preserved medieval towns
ring the bay. People make pilgrimages here, not only to take in the scenery but
also to visit the many Orthodox and Christian churches spread among the
villages.
Moscow:
For nearly 900 years, Moscow has been the capital of Russia.
As such, this old city has plenty to offer visitors. Let’s start with the 15th
century Red Square since many of the city’s key attractions surround it. A top
landmark is the Kremlin, a former fortress that houses museums and the
president of the Russian federation. Lenin’s
Tomb sits in the middle of the square, while the iconic onion-domed St.
Basil’s Cathedral, now a museum, is on one side.
Venice:
Venice is for romantics who love
gliding through the Grand Canal with a gondolier singing Italian love songs. This
is, after all, the city that sent Marco Polo
off on his journey to China. Start your exploration of Venice at San Marco Square, the city’s most famous square. Here you’ll
find the Doge’s Palace, the seat of Venetian government, and St. Mark’s Basilica,
the main church in Venice with
stunning views from the tower. Venice also is famous for its bridges across the
canals.
Monte Carlo:
If you’re into glitz and glamour,
look no further than Monte Carlo,
the major city in the tiny principality of Monaco. Monaco has always been known
for these qualities which reached new heights when its prince made Grace Kelly
his princess. Sitting on the shores of the Mediterranean, Monte Carlo is known for fast car races and its elite casino. Take
a walk along the harbor to see yachts that belong to the rich and famous.
Alhambra:
The Alhambra is one of the great
wonders of Spain. It’s a gorgeous palace-fortress complex that can be found in
Granada in southern Spain’s Andalusia
province. This imposing complex started out as a small fortress in the late
ninth century, though it was built on the ruins of a former Roman fortress. Taken
over by Christian rulers, it is the site where Columbus got the go-ahead to
discover the New World. The blending of architectural styles over the centuries
is stunning. You’ll find great art and grand gardens throughout.
Florence:
If it weren’t for Florence, the
Renaissance might not have happened. Florence is generally credited with
bringing Europe out of the dark ages with great artists like Michelangelo. You can see their works
at the Uffizi gallery, or the Academia that displays the original
David:
Eat a gelato while strolling the
Ponte Vecchio that bridges the Arno River. Ogle the over-the-top riches of the
Medici family at the Pitti Palace. Marvel at the early engineering that created
the great Duomo. This is Florence at its best.
London:
English history buffs will have a
field day in London. This city on
the Thames is chock full of palaces, from Buckingham Palace to Hampton Court Palace.
More a prison than a palace, the Tower of London
is home to the crowns jewels. And from Knightsbridge – don’t forget to visit
the magnificent food halls at Harrods – to Carnaby Street, the shopping is
awesome. You can get around London quickly
and efficiently by riding the famous Tube.
Amsterdam:
Amsterdam is a pleasant city
marked with meandering canals lined with tall, narrow row houses. It is the
city where Anne Frank kept her famous diary, so visiting the house where she
wrote is a must. This “Venice of the
North” also is a city of great art, beginning with the Rijksmuseum, home to
great European masterpieces; Rembrandt’s
house, and the more modern van Gogh museum. Take a break from sightseeing to
tour and sample Holland’s beer at the Heineken Brewery
Prague:
Prague, with a long history of
war and destruction, is considered one of the best places to visit in Europe. Despite the devastation caused by World War II, Prague
has a very nice Old Town that is worth more than a few hours of your time. Prague has many pedestrian zones,
which makes walking a delight, as you wander by Prague Castle, through the
Jewish Quarter and over the Charles Bridge. Wenceslas Square, situated in the
New Town, hums with a vibrant nightlife and entertainment air.
Istanbul:
Istanbul may be on the outer
fringes of Europe but well worth a visit when you’re traveling abroad. Turkey’s
biggest city is a fascinating place, filled with rich history, colorful markets, and mosques. Top attractions include the Bosporus that separates Europe and
Asia; the ecumenical Hagia Sophia that’s been a Greek Orthodox Christian basilica,
then an imperial mosque and now a museum, and the 15th century Topkapi Palace,
also a museum today. Get in a little shopping at the Grand Bazaar been in
operation since 1461.
Geirangerfjord:
When the summer heat of Europe
gets you down, head to Norway with its pretty cool scenery. Geirangerfjord is a 9.3-mile long fjord
with crystal blue waters fed by picturesque cascading waterfalls. Take a
sightseeing trip on a car ferry through the fjord, passing villages on the
shores. Look out for the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls
so named because legend says he’s trying to court the sisters. Also, look for
Bridal Veil – when the light is right, it looks like a thin veil covering the
rocks.
Barcelona:
Founded by the Romans, Barcelona today is a bustling city on
the Mediterranean Sea. As the capital of Catalonia, it is a powerhouse in the
region. It is perhaps best known for the unusual buildings designed by the
architect Antoni Gaudi. These landmark structures include La Sagrada Familia, a
church that’s been under construction since 1892. You could build your entire
visit around his buildings, but then you’d miss out on other Barcelona delights, such as La Rambla,
a popular pedestrian street in the central part of the city.
Dubrovnik:
As European cities go, Dubrovnik isn’t very big, but don’t let its size deter you. This little jewel, with less than 43,000 people, is one of the most visited cities on the Mediterranean. Dubrovnik transports visitors back to a time when the fortified city was a major maritime power commanding the third-largest navy in the Mediterranean. As you wander the streets, you’ll likely come across sculptures of St. Viaho, the city’s patron saint whose life is celebrated every February.
Santorini:
When it’s time to sit back and
relax, take yourself to Santorini,
an island in the Aegean. Top travel magazines consider this a prime destination;
once there, you can’t help but agree. The island has picture-postcard villages,
an active volcano, and stunning sunsets. Be sure to visit Fira, a village
perched atop a cliff also want to sample wines, such as the dessert
wine Vincanto as well as the produce that is made sweeter and tastier because
of the volcanic ash soil it grows in.
