25 Iconic European Cities to Explore

SAN MARINO, SAN MARINO The Guaita fortress is the oldest of the three towers constructed on Monte Titano that overlooks the capital of San Marino.

GRANADA, SPAIN In the southern Andalusia region, Granada contains grand examples of medieval architecture from the Moorish occupation, especially the Alhambra fortress overlooking the entire city.

DUBLIN, IRELAND Drinking in history, the Irish capital is home to a medieval castle, cobblestone streets, and the 12th-century Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

VENICE, ITALY Built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, Venice is best explored by gondola.

Instantly recognisable icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower.

FLORENCE, ITALY One of the world’s top art hubs, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance.

ROME, ITALY A mix of ancient ruins, awe-inspiring art, and vibrant streets, Rome is one of the world's most visited cities.

BARCELONA, SPAIN Barcelona is famous for architecture by Antoni Gaudi, the renowned architect and face of Catalan modernism.

HELSINKI, FINLAND Helsinki's central avenue, Mannerheimintie, holds the epic National Museum, Parliament House, and contemporary art museum, Kiasma.

BRUGES, BELGIUM The canals and cobblestone streets of Bruges overflow with charm.

MADRID, SPAIN This historical residence of the king of Spain sits just outside the Spanish capital, Madrid.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Bisected by the Danube, the city of Budapest offers a Castle Hill across the river from the House of Parliament, third largest in the world.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA The imperial capital of Austria, Vienna's cityscape is characterised by an abundance of Baroque buildings.

PRIZREN, KOSOVO Kosovo's cultural capital Prizren holds Ottoman-era architecture on the slopes of the Šar Mountains.

LONDON, ENGLAND One of the world's most visited cities, London packs plenty to see, like the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the iconic Big Ben clock tower.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK The historic center of Copenhagen contains Frederiksstaden, an 18th-century Rococo district, home to the royal family’s Amalienborg Palace.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” Prague is known for its Old Town Square with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches, and a medieval astronomical clock.

MOSTAR, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA A UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the Ottoman empire, the reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar is a symbol of reconciliation and coexistence of the diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA Bratislava's castle–dating to the 9th century but rebuilt in the 1800s–hovers over a pastel-colored old town on the banks of the Danube river.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN The Swedish capital contains one of the best-preserved, medieval old towns of Europe, dating to the 13th century.

TALLINN, ESTONIA A 15th-century defensive tower guards the Old Town, a UNESCO site, in the cultural hub of Estonia.

VATICAN CITY Officially a city-state within Rome, the Vatican centers around the domed Saint Peter’s Basilica and Piazza San Pietro, plus many of Italy’s most celebrated masterpieces can be found in the massive Vatican Museums.

PORTO, PORTUGAL Known for port wine, coastal Porto offers picturesque bridges, a medieval riverside district, and narrow cobblestone streets.

KRAKOW, POLAND Saint Mary's Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth Hall line the rynek in Krakow, one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Built on an elaborate canal system, Amsterdam is home to the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk.