Inspiration

Best Places to Visit in Europe

From the Amalfi Coast to the Northern Lights — our curated guide to Europe's most unmissable destinations.

Sophie Laurent

European Travel Editor

2025-06-12·8 min read

Overview

Europe is a continent of staggering diversity — from icy Scandinavian fjords to sun-drenched Mediterranean shores. With 44 countries, thousands of cities, and an almost endless tapestry of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, choosing where to go is the greatest challenge. We've distilled decades of travel expertise into this definitive guide to the continent's absolute must-see destinations.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

Amalfi Coast villages and limoncello tasting
Norwegian fjords and the Flåm Railway
Lisbon trams, fado music and pastéis de nata
Santorini caldera sunsets and wine
Prague at dawn on Charles Bridge
The French Riviera's glamour and hidden villages

🇮🇹 The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Clinging to steep cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most dramatic coastlines on Earth. Pastel-coloured villages tumble down to tiny harbours, lemon groves perfume the air, and the views from Ravello's Villa Cimbrone will stop your heart. Visit between May and June for warm weather before the summer crowds arrive.

Pro Tip

Take the ferry between Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello rather than the winding cliff road — it's cheaper, faster, and far more scenic.

🇳🇴 The Norwegian Fjords

No landscape in Europe is as raw and primal as the Norwegian fjords. Sognefjord — the longest at 204km — cuts deep into the mountainside, its walls rising over 1,300 metres from the water's surface. The nearby Flåm Railway is one of the world's most scenic train journeys, descending through waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. The fjords are magical year-round, but visit in winter for the Northern Lights.

Pro Tip

Book the Flåm Railway at least a month in advance in summer — it sells out weeks ahead.',

🇵🇹 Lisbon, Portugal

Europe's most underrated capital is having its moment. Lisbon combines the soul of a historic maritime empire — trams rattling up cobbled hills, fado music drifting from tiny bars, custard tarts cooling in pastelaria windows — with a thriving contemporary food and art scene. Stay in Alfama for old-world charm, or LX Factory for a cool creative vibe.

Pro Tip

A Lisbon Card gives you unlimited public transport including trams 28E and 15E plus free entry to major museums.

🇬🇷 Santorini, Greece

The iconic blue-domed churches and white-washed buildings of Oia have made Santorini one of the most photographed places on Earth. But beyond the Instagram highlights, this volcanic island offers world-class wine tasting in caldera-view restaurants, black sand beaches, and an ancient Minoan city buried for 3,500 years at Akrotiri. Book your stay in Oia for the legendary sunsets.

Pro Tip

Avoid July and August crowds — visit in May or September for perfect weather and fewer tourists.

🇨🇿 Prague, Czech Republic

Perhaps the most perfectly preserved medieval city in Europe, Prague's old town feels like walking through a fairy tale. The Charles Bridge at dawn with mist rising from the Vltava, the Gothic spires of St Vitus Cathedral, and the astronomical clock in Old Town Square striking the hour — Prague never fails to enchant. Its beer is also the world's best.

Pro Tip

Cross Charles Bridge at 6am — it is virtually empty and extraordinary. By 10am it is shoulder-to-shoulder.

🇫🇷 The French Riviera

Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Antibes — the Côte d'Azur has captivated artists, writers and royalty for over a century. The promenade in Nice, yacht-filled harbours of Saint-Tropez, and the Casino of Monte Carlo still exude glamour. But the Riviera's secret pleasures are the back-country villages above the coast — Eze, Les Baux, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are extraordinary.

Ready to explore?