To visit medieval castles and palaces of kings, to walk along the atmospheric streets of the old town, to visit informative expositions in museums, to see unique sights – for the sake of all this tourists go to the Old World.
I’ll tell you about the most beautiful cities in Europe – what and where you should definitely see.
Venice (Italy)
Venice was founded in 421, and its modern architectural appearance was formed in the XIV-XVI centuries – at that time Venice was one of the largest cities in Europe. The city is located on the mainland and 118 islands of the Venetian Lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. Today Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is famous not only for its canals, St. Mark’s Square, and the cathedral that houses the relics of the patron saint of the city, but also for its many palaces. Almost every house on the Grand Canal is a palazzo or palace of some noble Venetian family. The best architects, sculptors and artists were invited to build and decorate them.
Other famous landmarks in the city:
- Doge’s Palace is the Gothic residence of Venetian rulers;
- The Grand Canal, which divides the city into two parts, and the Rialto Bridge across it;
- Bridge of Sighs – Punta della Dogana, which got its name because of the sad sighs of the convicts who passed over this bridge in custody.
Rome (Italy)
The Eternal City was founded in 753 BC. Today it is one of the oldest cities in Europe and the capital not only of modern Italy, but also of an ancient civilization. On the banks of the Tiber River was born the Roman Empire, which played a huge role in the life of all European states. Today, Rome is a real history book.
The Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Piazza España, the Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City are just a few of Rome’s world-famous landmarks.
By the way, the legend about the origin of the name of the city after its founder Romulus – one of the two brothers, sons of the god Mars – is nothing more than a legend. In fact, historians suggest that the name of the city comes from one of the Etruscan tribes – the ancient population of the banks of the Tiber.
Paris (France)
Paris was founded in the 3rd century BC by the Celtic tribe of the Parisians. For the next two hundred years it was known as the Gallo-Roman city of Parisia. From the end of the 10th century, the city became the capital of France.
A visit to Europe’s most romantic city is worth it to climb the Eiffel Tower, see da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in the Louvre, have a coffee in Montmartre and walk along the Champs-Elysees. You can also enjoy the architecture of Paris by visiting Gothic cathedrals such as St. Chapelle. The most famous Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris is still being restored after the 2019 fire. It will not reopen until the end of 2024.
There are also enough museums in the city to spend at least a week here. For example, it is worth visiting the Orangerie Museum, where Monet’s huge lilies are displayed on the semicircular walls exactly as the artist intended. You can also go to the suburbs and visit the Palace of Versailles, the residence of French kings, particularly Louis XIV.
Vienna (Austria)
The capital of Austria is an architectural treasure trove and a major cultural and historical center of Europe. The Habsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria, the Holy Roman and then Austro-Hungarian empires, over the centuries completed and rebuilt its winter residence here – the Hofburg. It is a Baroque and Classicist palace with 2600 halls and rooms. Some rooms of the Hofburg are still used as the official residence of the Austrian president.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the style of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, or Stefansdom, is also worth a visit. The cathedral has retained its current appearance since 1511. Vienna is also home to a huge number of works of art, which are concentrated in the Museum Quarter and in numerous palaces and castles.
Other attractions include the Baroque St. Peter’s Church, the Vienna Opera House, the neo-Gothic City Hall, the Belvedere Palace complex, the Art Nouveau Ankerur Clock, and the 18th-century Eugene of Savoy Palace.
Munich (Germany)
Munich is the capital of the federal state of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany. It is famous for more than just beer, although the Oktoberfest held here is the biggest folk festival in the world.
Munich is home to some fine examples of European architecture:
- Neo-Gothic New Town Hall with a clock tower 85 meters high;
- The old town hall from the 14th century;
- Gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral, the symbol of the city;
- St. Peter’s Church, founded in the 11th century.
You should walk all around the Old Town, Odeonsplatz and Karlsplatz squares, visit the Hofgarten Gardens and the Bavarian State Opera.
Munich is also a cultural center, and its museums hold many interesting things. Ludwig I of Bavaria founded the Glyptothek, a collection of ancient art, and the old and new Pinakothek, which houses works by great European masters from Dürer, Raphael and El Greco to Monet, Degas and Van Gogh.
Copenhagen (Denmark)
The city was founded in 1167. It is located on three islands in the Eresun Strait, and the city’s name means “commercial harbor” in Old Norse.
Denmark is one of the world’s oldest monarchies, so there are many palaces, such as Amalienborg, a winter residence in the style of Louis XV, and Rosenborg, a Dutch Renaissance style palace with a large art collection. The suburbs are also home to royal castles such as Fredensborg. This is the active residence of the Danish monarchs, but you can visit the palace chapel and part of the park, which is open to visitors in July.
It is also interesting to simply walk around the picturesque streets of Copenhagen, because in 2023 the city was awarded the title of Architectural Capital of the World by UNESCO, which is awarded for three years. Since the end of the XIX century Copenhagen has gradually transformed from an industrial center into a beautiful and livable city, which it is today.
Prague (Czech Republic)
The city was founded in the 8th century, and today the famous tiled roofs and sidewalks of the historic center attract tourists from all over Europe. Many experts consider Prague one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
The main attractions are the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River and St. Vitus Cathedral, an example of European Gothic architecture that took almost 600 years to build. Five districts of the historical center are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
While in Prague, be sure to visit Old Town Square, the Town Hall with its astronomical clock, the medieval fortress of Vysehrad, and Zlatá, or Golden Lane, the name of which is associated with the jewelers who once settled here. The city is also famous for its fountains and monuments of architecture in Art Nouveau, Cubism and Functionalism styles. For example, pay attention to the “Dancing House” by architect Frank Gehry.
Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona is one of the most original cities in Europe. It is the capital of Catalonia and the city where Antoni Gaudi and Pablo Picasso lived and worked. Gaudi built many amazing buildings here, one of which – the Sagrada Familia or Sagrada Familia Cathedral – has become a symbol of the city, famous all over the world.
The Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona, which divides the historic Gothic Quarter and the Raval Quarter. It is worth a walk in both neighborhoods to see the residential buildings and temples preserved from the early Middle Ages. Fans of Gaudi’s work should see the Casa Mila, Casa Batlló and Casa Vicens buildings, as well as the Catalan modernist Guell Park and Palace.
To see the city from above, climb Montjuïc Hill and also the top of Tibidabo – both mountains are accessible by cable car.
Lisbon (Portugal)
The first mention of Lisbon dates back to 1200 BC, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Lisbon is also the westernmost capital in Europe and the only one on the Atlantic coast.
The city combines architectural monuments of different styles: the Romanesque Lisbon Cathedral, the Gothic Carmelite Monastery, the Baroque palaces of Belém, Mafra and Quelos, Classicist and Renaissance palaces, and Manuelino and Baroque churches.
The most famous landmarks of the center are the urban ensembles of Liberty Avenue and Figueira Square. In the center of Lisbon, in the districts of Alfama and Mouraria, there are no shortage of atmospheric restaurants, where the national pensive fado music plays in the evenings. The National Theater of São Carlos and the Museum of Ancient Art are also worth a visit.
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
Dubrovnik is a city on the shores of the Adriatic Sea with a population of only about 50,000. Here you can observe the almost intact layout of the medieval city: the layout of the area was developed as early as 1272.
The plan regulated the exact width of streets, the size of neighborhoods, and sewerage systems. The only two buildings enclosed in the city walls in 1310 were the church and the Dominican monastery. The city acquired its modern stone buildings in the XIV century and has preserved them to this day.
Dubrovnik’s main street, Stradun, is a favorite strolling spot for tourists and locals alike, and the city’s main museum is located in the princely palace. You can walk around the perimeter of the city along the city walls. They offer views of the sea, the harbor and the city itself. At the same time, the city looks great from the water – finish the tour with a boat trip along the city walls.
Yachts and fishing boats moor in the old city harbor, and the 16th century Fort St. Ivan covers it from the sea. The fort houses a maritime museum and an aquarium. There are also museums in the Dominican Monastery, in the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, and in the former granary – now an ethnographic museum.
Dubrovnik Guide – Royal Harbor, Old Town and Medieval Streets
Istanbul (Turkey)
Another ancient city, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires. Istanbul is a meeting place of different cultures, formerly called Byzantium and Constantinople. It is located on the two banks of the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia. European and Asian parts of the city are connected by bridges and tunnels. More than 15 million people live in the city, which makes Istanbul one of the most populated cities in the world.
The main attraction of the city is the Cathedral of St. Sophia, a world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture and a symbol of the “Golden Age” of Byzantium. Until 2020 it was a museum, but now the cathedral has become a functioning mosque Aya Sofia, which can still be visited by tourists. Other famous sights are the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque, Tokapı Palace, Palace Mosaics Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and St. Savior’s Church in Chora.
If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of the oriental market, be sure to visit the Grand Bazaar, where there are about 3500 stores on 61 streets. And don’t forget to take a boat ride on the Bosphorus – you’ll feel like you’re between two continents.
