With beautiful villages, ancient cities, and breathtaking islands, there are many great places to visit in Europe.
Doing a trip to Europe is always a great experience. There are many beautiful countries with great cities, towns, and islands that all have something unique to offer. As there are so many amazing destinations in Europe, it can be hard to decide where to go.
To help you decide which place to see next, I made this guide to the best places to visit in Europe in 2023. I’ve traveled to many places in Europe so I know which ones are definitely worth a visit!
Best Places To Visit in Europe in 2023
Venice, Italy
Venice is a city that you can find in the country of Italy and it is known for its many beautiful canals and bridges that go across those canals.
Moreover, the city of Venice consists of about 120 different islands in total.
Furthermore, the city has a lot of amazing buildings that showcase beautiful historic architecture.
For example, there are a lot of waterfront palaces with a Renaissance architectural style.
One of the best things to do in Venice is a gondola ride. During this, you sail on the canals of the city while onboard a traditional gondola.
Also, you can check out the Rialto Bridge when you are in Venice. This is a very old bridge that spans the Grand Canal, the largest waterway in the city.
Another great thing to do in Venice is to get lost in the city’s streets. That way, you can discover the most beautiful places in the city.
Porto, Portugal
Porto is another great city to visit in Europe. Porto is the second-largest city in the European country of Portugal.
The city has many amazing historic sights that you can check out when you are visiting it. In fact, the city center of Porto is on the list of World Heritage Sites, as it is one of the oldest city centers on the continent.
When you are in Porto, you can check out one of its many great museums.
Also, the city is known for its many bridges and viewpoints.
Split, Croatia
Split, which is the second-largest city in the country of Croatia is also one of the top destinations to visit in Europe.
You can find this city on the Adriatic Sea and there is a lot to do and see in the city.
Split has a rich history and was ruled by a lot of different rulers.
You can find many historic sights in the city, such as Diocletian’s Palace.
Also, the Archaeological Museum can be great to visit if you want to learn about the city’s history.
Another great thing to do is to go for a relaxing stroll at the Old Town of Split.
Paris, France
Paris, the city of Love and the capital of France, is an amazing city that you can go to.
There are a lot of reasons why Paris is worth a visit.
First of all, the city features many different architectural styles that you can find throughout the city.
Furthermore, the Eiffel Tower can be amazing to check out when you are visiting Paris. This famous landmark is very lovely to see and it can also be great to go to the top of it.
Also, you can find the Louvre in Paris. This famous museum houses a large collection of world-class art that is perfect to see if you like art.
Furthermore, Paris has a lot of avenues and city parks that make the city lovely if you want to go for a relaxing stroll.
Naples, Italy
Naples is a great city if you want to experience local life in Italy. Compared to cities like Venice, Rome, and Florence, Naples is a much less touristic place, which has its charm.
What’s great is that Naples is the birthplace of pizza and there are some very good pizza restaurants in the city where you can try out the delicious dish.
Furthermore, there are many historic buildings in Naples and there are good areas for shopping.
Another thing that you can do when going to Naples is to check out the infamous Mount Vesuvius.
Also, it can be great to check out the Amalfi Coast from Naples. This is a beautiful coastal region that you can find near Naples where there are several beautiful villages with picturesque houses and great viewpoints, such as Positano.
London, United Kingdom
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is another wonderful place to visit in Europe.
It is the largest city of the country and it has a huge number of sights that are amazing to check out.
For example, you can go here to see Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and the Tower of London. So if you want to go sightseeing, the city is amazing.
Besides that, the city is home to many very good museums, such as the British Museum and Tate Modern. What’s great is that many of these museums have no admission fee.
Also, it can be nice to go shopping in London and a great place for that is Oxford Street.
Furthermore, many festivals take place in London and there are numerous venues for live performances in the city as well.
Positano, Italy
Positano is a village that you can find on the Amalfi Coast, which is an area that is very close to the major Italian city of Naples. You can combine a visit to both of these places.
Positano is a small cliff-side village that has beautiful picturesque houses, amazing views, and a lovely beach where you can relax.
Furthermore, there are several luxurious hotels and restaurants in the village that you can go to when you are in Positano.
And you can find several other lovely villages on the Amalfi Coast, such as Amalfi itself. These can be great to check out by boat or by bus when visiting Positano.
Ibiza, Spain
Another one of the greatest places to visit in Europe is the island of Ibiza.
This is a Spanish island that you can find in the Mediterranean Sea and it is the largest island of the Balearic Islands.
Ibiza is known for its nightlife and you can find a lot of clubs on the island. Especially during summer, this is a reason why many tourists travel to the island.
Besides that, there are wonderful towns and villages on the island. One of these is Ibiza Town, which is a nice place with great architecture, lots of shops and restaurants, and a lot o things that you can do.
Furthermore, you can find a lot of beautiful natural landscapes on the island. And there are lots of places where you can see great views when you are in Ibiza.
Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is Europe’s capital in terms of skyscrapers. This is a German city and you can find a lot of skyscrapers in the city that are wonderful to see.
Also, there are various places at these skyscrapers from where you can see the city from above.
Besides that, Frankfurt also has many historic places with historic architecture that can be great to check out.
For example, you can see the Frankfurt Cathedral in the city.
Also, the Goethe House can be very interesting to see.
Besides that, Frankfurt is home to a very large amount of museums. For example, you can see the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt here, where you can often attend great art exhibitions.
Another great museum in the city is the Senckenberg Naturmuseum.
Prague, Czech Republic
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is yet another highlight of the continent of Europe.
This is a lovely city in central Europe with a historic city center where you can see great examples of Romanesque, Baroque, and many other architectural styles.
In the past, Prague was an important city as it played a large role in the Habsburg monarchy.
Some of the best places that you can visit in the city are Prague Castle, the Old Town Square, and the Charles Bridge.
What’s great about Prague as well is that it is a very walkable city. This makes it perfect for a city trip during which you want to see the city’s best parts in a short amount of time.
Athens, Greece
If you want to visit a city where you can see a lot of historic things, you have to go to the city of Athens in Greece.
This is the capital of Greece and there is so much to do and see there.
The most iconic landmark in the city of Athens is the Acropolis. This is an old citadel that you can find in the city center of Athens. In Ancient Greece, many important buildings and structures were located here, such as the Parthenon. You can still see some of the ruins of these buildings in the city.
The area of Plaka is a must-see when you are traveling to Athens. This is the oldest part of the city and you can find a lot of restaurants here.
Besides that, it can be great to hang out at Monastiraki Square when you are in the city. This is a large square where the shopping street Ermou ends up.
Furthermore, there are great museums in the city of Athens.
Marseille, France
Marseille is the oldest city in France and one of the oldest cities in Europe, making it one of the best places to visit in Europe is you love history.
You can find this city on the French Riviera. After Paris, it is the most populous city in France.
Throughout the city of Marseille, you can find a lot of historic buildings.
For example, you can see Palais Longchamp in the city.
Also, you can check out the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde in the city.
Furthermore, if you want to learn about the city’s past, you can go to the Marseille History Museum. This is a history museum that is completely focused on the city.
Furthermore, a nice area to hang out when you are in the city of Marseille is the Old Port of Marseille. Here, you can see a lot of boats and you can find a lot of restaurants with delicious food here.
Gdansk, Poland
Gdansk is a Polish city that is growing in popularity.
You can find the city in the northern part of Poland and it is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
The Old Town of Gdansk is a wonderful place to visit. You can find historic buildings here that are very colorful and that showcase great examples of historic architecture.
Furthermore, there are a lot of very interesting museums in the city where you can learn new things. For example, there is a museum that focuses on WWII. This is the Museum of the Second World War.
Also, the Amber Museum, the National Museum, and the National Maritime Museum are very interesting museums to check out.
Furthermore, the European Solidarity Centre is a very impressive museum to visit when traveling to Gdansk.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is a beautiful Greek island that is part of the Cyclades group of islands.
The island is well-known for its iconic blue domes that you can see on many postcards from Greece and the island.
On Santorini, you can find the picturesque village of Oia. This is a beautiful cliffside village from where you can see an amazing view of the sea. Furthermore, there are a lot of very luxurious hotels and apartments that you can find in this village.
Besides that, there are other beautiful villages on the island such as Fira.
Also, you can find lots of different beaches at many parts of the island. For example, Red Beach is a very beautiful beach that is made from red sand.
Santorini is also a great place to visit if you want to visit other islands of the Cyclades, such as Paros, Milos, and Mykonos. There are good ferries that connect the islands and there is an airport as well.
Valencia, Spain
Another great European destination on this list is the city of Valencia in Spain. This is one of the most populous cities in Spain and you can find the city on the Mediterranean Sea.
The history of Valencia is very extensive as the city’s beginnings date back to the Roman Empire.
Furthermore, you can find a lot of historic sights in Valencia that are very interesting to see, such as historic churches.
The city also has a lot of great museums that you can check out. For example, you can go to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, which is an interesting science museum in the city located in a very modern building.
Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Rotterdam is the second-most populous city in the Netherlands. Many people know about the city of Amsterdam, which is the capital of the country, but fewer people know about Rotterdam.
The city of Rotterdam is a port city located on the North Sea.
The city has a rich history that goes back to the 13th century, and you can see a lot of historic structures in the city. However, during WWII a large part of the historic city center was destroyed by bombings.
Because of that, the city had to rebuild, and that’s why you can find a lot of modern architecture in the city. This includes a large number of skyscrapers, that are very interesting to see.
Some of the highlights of the city are the Euromast, the Cube Houses, and Hotel New York.
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Europe Places To Visit Tips
Europe has so many different places that can be great to explore. Depending on your preferences, one place might be better for you than another place.
When choosing where to go, I recommend finding out if there are special festivals or other events that you want to attend when you are going to any of these cities.
For example, you might want to visit Venice during the Carnival of Venice.
Also, for many cities on this list, there are city passes with which you can get free access to sights. This can make your time in the cities much more comfortable and convenient.
These were my favorite places to visit in Europe in 2023. I hope I helped you decide where to go next!