12 Best European Cities to Visit in December
When I think about December in Europe, I picture snow-dusted cobblestone streets, festive lights adorning the buildings, and Christmas markets jam-packed with crafts and delicious food.
“I Could Spend a Year Here” — Travelers Share Their Favorite Spots in Europe
There’s a difference between a place you visit… and a place where you immediately start imagining your life.
12 Best European Cities to Visit in October
I don’t know if it’s the wine harvests, the festivals, the damp cobbled streets, or the leaves changing, but Europe is always best during autumn.
17 Best Places to Visit in Northern Europe
Northern Europe may be known as a place of Vikings and snow – and to some extent, that’s not incorrect.
12 Best European Cities to Visit in June
Ah, June in Europe – pure magic! The continent hits that perfect sweet spot where the weather’s amazing but the summer tourist hordes haven’t fully descended (yet…).
12 Best European Cities to Visit in July
Europe is wonderful year-round, but there is something particularly magical about the continent in July.
19 Most Beautiful Castle Towns in Europe
Europe has approximately one castle for every twelve towns (don’t fact-check us on that), so building a list of the most beautiful castle towns requires conviction and strong opinions held loosely.
10 Most Charming Historic Streets in Europe
Europe may not be able to compete with other continents when it comes to national parks and exotic wildlife.
12 Best European Cities to Visit in November
As autumn leaves fall, the most dreaded part of European travel also starts to loosen its grip.
25 Most Beautiful Medieval Cities in Europe
Step back in time through Europe’s most magical medieval cities where cobblestone streets wind beneath ancient towers and history seeps from every stone wall! While modern metropolises offer gleaming skyscrapers and subway systems, these preserved treasures transport visitors to a world of knights, merchants, and craftsmen who built lasting legacies.
The 12 Most Beautiful Streets In Europe
Europe is absolutely crushing the pretty street game, and has been doing so for centuries.
10 Best Wine Regions to Visit in Europe
There is nothing quite like sipping a glass of wine in the place where it’s made. There are only a few places in the world where you can do this, and Europe is one of them.
12 of Europe’s Most Beautiful City Squares
You know what’s seriously underrated?
9 Best Multi-Country Trips in Europe
Europe makes multi-country travel a breeze. Open borders across much of the continent mean you can hop between countries without tricky visas or long border waits.
25 Best Places to Visit in Europe
In the old days, Americans use to take a couple of years to make the Grand Tour of Europe. They had the right idea.
Introduction
As it boasts a staggering array of incredible countries, cities and nature sights, it should come as no surprise to learn that Europe attracts more tourists than any other continent. Besides delving into its rich cultural heritage and exploring its myriad of impressive old historic sites, visitors can enjoy its exceptional artist and architectural treasures, diverse dining scenes and stupendous scenery.
Despite its relatively small size, Europe is astonishingly diverse with soaring mountain ranges, such as the Alps, Carpathians and Pyrenees, set alongside major rivers like the Danube, Rhine and Volga. While the cold Arctic and Atlantic oceans lie to the north and west, its southern shores are bounded by the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean and Black seas. As well as swathes of fertile farmland and pristine forests, it boasts amazing coastal scenery with vast valleys, twinkling lakes and breathtaking national parks.
As each of its 44 countries are home to their own unique cultures, languages and identities, it can be hard to know where to start. Add in the innumerable kingdoms, empires and republics that existed on the continent over the ages and Europe really does have an almost endless list of enticing historic towns, castles and archaeological sites to visit.
While its major capitals such as Amsterdam, London, Paris and Rome all attract hordes of tourists, thanks to their iconic cultural landmarks, world-class museums and lively atmospheres, the massive metropolises of Barcelona, Istanbul and Saint Petersburg are all equally well worth visiting. On top of this, both Berlin and Prague count among the most visited cities on the continent with the former known for its moving monuments and vibrant nightlife scene and Czechia’s capital for its charming cobbled streets, castle and cathedral.
Aside from Europe’s countless cities, many people also delight in driving about its small towns that are often set in spellbinding spots. While Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one of the most alluring stretches of coastline in the world, Hallstatt, the ‘Pearl of Austria’, and Dubrovnik in Croatia are just as stunning. In addition, beautiful historic towns such as Bruges, Edinburgh and Sintra all have their admirers.
While many people come to explore its cities and towns or see famous sites such as the Colosseum, Eiffel Tower and Buckingham Palace, just as many visit for its sublime scenery. Aside from hiking and skiing about the Alps, you can always snap photos at the phenomenal Pulpit Rock, cycle around the Netherlands’ colorful tulip fields or bask on one of the Mediterranean’s breathtaking beaches.
As well as visiting fairytale castles, like Neuschwanstein, mountaintop monasteries, like Meteora, and awe-inspiring archaeological sites, such as Pompeii and Ephesus, visitors to Europe can also explore its innumerable islands and archipelagos. While the wild and rugged Azores and Lofoten Islands are sure to delight outdoor adventurers, the gorgeous Greek Islands of Crete, Mykonos and Santorini all attract holidaymakers looking to relax and unwind.
To top it all off, Iceland in the north Atlantic has impressive glaciers, waterfalls and volcanos to enjoy with the astounding aurora borealis also lighting up its dark skies in winter.