Enough to fill a week

Deepest in Europe

The European destinations we cover most fully — where the site can plan a whole week.

96 destinations

The Eiffel Tower above the Seine at violet dusk, with river boats moored along the bank

FranceBest April–June, September–October

Aerial view of London at sunset: Tower Bridge, the River Thames and the skyline of the City

United KingdomBest May–September

The Colosseum in Rome at dusk, its arches glowing with warm light under a deep blue evening sky

ItalyBest April–June, September–October

Aerial view of Barcelona with the Sagrada Família rising from the octagonal blocks of the Eixample grid

SpainBest May–June, September–October

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul with its cascading grey domes and six slender minarets against an evening sky

TurkeyBest April–May, September–November

A gondolier steering a gondola on the Grand Canal in front of the white arches of the Rialto Bridge in Venice

ItalyBest April–June, September–October

Aerial view along Charles Bridge crowded with pedestrians, looking across the Vltava towards Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral at golden hour

Czech RepublicBest April–June, September–October

A pastry and a fork on a marble coffeehouse table, a bentwood chair behind it

AustriaBest April–June, September–October

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin seen from Pariser Platz, with the quadriga statue on top and a lone visitor crossing the cobbled square

GermanyBest May–September

Daytime rooftop view down Gran Vía in Madrid, with the domed Metropolis building in the foreground

SpainBest April–June, September–October

Rows of freshly baked pasteis de nata with flaky golden pastry shells and caramelised, blistered custard tops

PortugalBest March–June, September–October

Florence Cathedral: Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome and Giotto's bell tower rising above the rooftops of the city

ItalyBest April–June, September–October

A classic Greek salad in a blue-rimmed taverna bowl, topped with a thick slab of feta drizzled with olive oil and oregano over tomatoes, red onion, green pepper and cucumber

GreeceBest April–June, September–October

The neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament building on the Danube in Budapest under a dramatic pink evening sky, seen from the Buda side

HungaryBest April–June, September–October

The ornate Gothic marble facade of the Duomo di Milano under a blue sky, with crowds and pigeons filling the cathedral square below

ItalyBest Spring and early autumn

Aerial view of Munich's old town at sunset, with the tower of St. Peter's Church rising over Marienplatz and the rooftops of the historic center

GermanyBest Late spring through early autumn, plus December for the Christmas markets

Close-up of crispy battered fish and chips with a lemon wedge, ketchup and tartar sauce on a blue plate

IrelandBest May–September

Colourful gabled townhouses and moored wooden boats along the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen under an evening sky

DenmarkBest May–September

Golden-hour view over Edinburgh rooftops from Calton Hill, with the Balmoral clock tower and the Scott Monument in silhouette

United KingdomBest May–June, September

Riddarholmen island and its dark church spire under a pink and purple sunset, seen across calm water in Stockholm

SwedenBest May–September

The monumental triumphal arch and curved colonnades of Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels under a blue sky with scattered clouds

BelgiumBest Late spring through early autumn

Zurich's Limmat riverfront under a blue sky, with boats moored at a jetty and the twin towers of the Grossmünster and old-town spires in the background

SwitzerlandBest June to September for lake life; December for festive lights

The iconic blue domes of Oia in Santorini overlooking the caldera and the Aegean Sea

GreeceBest May–June, September–October

The row of Kato Mili windmills above the whitewashed waterfront houses of Little Venice in Mykonos Town, with waves breaking against the terraces, Greece

GreeceBest May–June & September

Aerial view of Dubrovnik's walled Old Town on the Adriatic, with terracotta rooftops, the Old Port full of moored boats and sea fortifications

CroatiaBest May–June, September–October

Seljalandsfoss waterfall in south Iceland plunging off a green cliff into a wide valley at sunset

Best June–August (midnight sun), September–March (aurora)

Colourful houses of the Ribeira district rising above the Douro riverside quay in Porto, with traditional boats on the water

PortugalBest May–June, September–October

A Spanish tapas spread on a dark wooden bar table: a paella pan, a board of jamon and cheeses, plates of pintxos and montaditos, skewers, and glasses of vermouth and gin tonic

SpainBest March–May, October–November

Red and ochre Belle Epoque buildings and palm trees reflected in the mirror pool of the Promenade du Paillon beside Place Massena in Nice

FranceBest Late spring and early autumn

A classic Neapolitan margherita with melted mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil leaves on a marble table

ItalyBest April–June, September–October

A white plate of golden pan-finished pierogi topped with crispy bacon bits and chives, arranged around a small bowl of herbed sour cream dip

PolandBest May–September

The illuminated Palace of Culture and Science towering over downtown Warsaw's modern skyscrapers at night

PolandBest Late spring through early autumn

Freshly baked cinnamon buns generously topped with pearl sugar, in the Nordic korvapuusti style.

FinlandBest Summer

The white marble slopes of the Oslo Opera House on the waterfront, with sailboats on the fjord and the city skyline behind.

NorwayBest Summer

Aerial view of Geneva's Mont Blanc bridge where the Rhone meets Lake Geneva

SwitzerlandBest Late spring to early autumn, when the lakefront comes alive

The wave-shaped glass crown of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall at sunset, Hamburg

GermanyBest Late spring to early autumn, when harbor life moves outdoors

Cologne Cathedral and the Hohenzollern Bridge illuminated at night over the Rhine

GermanyBest Late spring to early autumn; Carnival season peaks in February

Rooftop view over the historic old town of Valencia with its church towers and white facades

SpainBest spring

Café terraces at golden hour beneath the facade of Málaga Cathedral

SpainBest spring

Boats moored in a turquoise rocky cove beneath limestone cliffs in Mallorca

SpainBest summer

Wooden tables under green checked cloths set out on black volcanic gravel beneath palms and shade trees at a rural Canarian eating house in Tenerife, a single diner lingering over lunch in the dappled light.

SpainBest year-round

A sailboat anchored in a secluded turquoise cove framed by pine-covered cliffs on the Ibiza coast

SpainBest summer

The whitewashed village of Loutro stacked around its horseshoe harbour on Crete's south coast, awnings over the waterfront tavernas and small boats moored on glassy turquoise water below bare brown mountains.

GreeceBest May–June & September–October

A narrow cobbled lane between honey-coloured stone buildings and a vaulted arch in the medieval Old Town of Rhodes, Greece

GreeceBest May–October

Low golden light striking the ochre sea stacks and natural arch of Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, with clear green water pooling over dark rock in the foreground.

PortugalBest summer

The Matterhorn mirrored in a still alpine lake surrounded by golden autumn larches

SwitzerlandBest December to April for skiing; July to September for hiking

Hohensalzburg Fortress above Salzburg's old town at sunset, with the Alps on the horizon

AustriaBest Late spring and September shoulder season; December for Advent markets

The gilded copper canopy of Innsbruck's Goldenes Dachl glowing above its frescoed oriel balcony on the pale Neuhof facade, with the snow-covered crags of the Nordkette rising directly behind the roofline under a blue sky.

AustriaBest December to March for snow; June to September for hiking

Close-up of broken chunks and shards of dark chocolate piled on a white surface

SwitzerlandBest May to September for lake terraces; December for cozy fondue weather

The red-brick turreted castle on the edge of the Minnewater in Bruges, its lakeside terrace set with white parasols and diners beneath bare spring trees and a wide, cloud-streaked sky.

BelgiumBest Late spring and early autumn; December for festive lights

Ljubljana Castle on its wooded hill rising above the neoclassical Slovenian Philharmonic building in the city centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia

SloveniaBest Spring through early autumn

A cobbled lane on Tallinn's Toompea hill running between whitewashed old walls toward the black onion domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

EstoniaBest Late spring through early autumn

Riga Cathedral rising above the old town rooftops with the Daugava river beyond

LatviaBest Late spring through early autumn

Church bell towers and red rooftops of Vilnius Old Town in warm evening light

LithuaniaBest Late spring through early autumn

The glass-and-stone dome of the CEC Palace rising at the end of a cobbled Old Town street in Bucharest, framed by ornate facades and a cast-iron lamppost.

RomaniaBest May–June & September–October

A generous platter of charcoal-grilled meats — skewers, chicken wings, sausages and chops — served over flatbread with roasted peppers, potatoes and bowls of dipping sauces.

SerbiaBest April–June & September–October

The ochre and red-brick facade of Sofia's Central Mineral Baths rising behind its green-tiled fountain, jets of water arcing into the pool under a clear blue sky.

BulgariaBest May–June & September–October

St Mark's Church in Zagreb's Upper Town, its glazed tiled roof laid out as the coats of arms of Croatia and of the city

CroatiaBest Spring and early autumn; December for Advent

The waterfront of Split seen from out on the Adriatic, the palm-lined Riva running along the cream stone facades of the old town with the grey Dalmatian mountains rising behind under a clear blue sky.

CroatiaBest Late spring and early autumn

The white balustrade of La Concha promenade overlooking the bay and Santa Clara Island in San Sebastián

SpainBest summer

Gildas on a bar plate: green olives, guindilla peppers and anchovies threaded onto toothpicks in olive oil, the classic Basque pintxo

SpainBest summer

A white bowl of penne pasta coated in a rich meat and tomato ragù, dusted with grated cheese and black pepper, on a rustic wooden table

ItalyBest Spring and autumn

The dome and spire of the Mole Antonelliana rising over the rooftops of Turin

ItalyBest Spring and autumn

The red-brick and white-stone arches of Verona's Ponte Pietra spanning the fast green Adige, with the dome and bell tower of San Giorgio in Braida rising among cypresses behind.

ItalyBest Late spring through early autumn

Rolling Tuscan hills at misty sunrise, with a stone farmhouse ringed by cypress trees on a ridge and a winding white road below

ItalyBest Spring and early autumn

The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilting over the Piazza dei Miracoli under a deep blue sky with scattered clouds, visitors crossing the square below

ItalyBest Spring and early autumn

The Torre di Scopello and sea stacks at golden hour on Sicily's north-west coast

ItalyBest Spring and autumn

Catania's Pescheria fish market seen through the dark stone arch that leads into it, with wet lava paving, orange parasols and strings of bunting, trestles of iced fish and aproned fishmongers below a peeling baroque palazzo.

ItalyBest Spring and autumn

Strings of dried red peppers hanging over a food market stall in Matera, Italy, with crates of dried peppers, nuts and dried fruit spread out below

ItalyBest Spring and autumn

The village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre glowing at dusk, its lights spilling down the cliff toward the Ligurian Sea

ItalyBest April–June, September–October

The village of Varenna clustered on its promontory over Lake Como

ItalyBest Late spring and early autumn

The gatehouse and red-and-yellow towers of Pena Palace above the forested hills of Sintra

PortugalBest spring

A narrow cobbled lane climbing through Granada's Albaicin quarter between a brick and river-stone wall and whitewashed houses, a cascade of magenta bougainvillea spilling across the gap above.

SpainBest spring

Racing yachts massed across Malta's Grand Harbour between the fortified bastion walls of Valletta and the Three Cities

MaltaBest April–June & September–November

The neoclassical, Doric-columned Church of St George inside the Old Fortress of Corfu, set against the cliffs and the Ionian Sea, Greece

GreeceBest May–June & September

The White Tower of Thessaloniki, the city's landmark Ottoman-era stone tower on the seafront promenade, Greece

GreeceBest May–June & September–October

The sweeping Georgian facade of the Royal Crescent in Bath, fronted by a wide green lawn under a dramatic cloudy sky.

United KingdomBest Late spring and early autumn

The towers of York Minster rising above the medieval city walls and rooftops on a sunny morning.

United KingdomBest Late spring and summer

Red-brick buildings, curving tram tracks and office towers in central Manchester, seen from above.

United KingdomBest Late spring and early autumn

A full British fried breakfast on a pub table — sausage, bacon, fried egg, black pudding, baked beans, vine tomatoes and hash brown — served with two glasses of lager

United KingdomBest Summer

Crowds strolling along a bustling pedestrian shopping street in Glasgow city centre, lined with grand Victorian buildings.

United KingdomBest Late spring and summer

The grand Portland-stone facade and green copper domes of Belfast City Hall under a moody sky.

United KingdomBest Late spring and early autumn

Colourful pub fronts, flags and strolling visitors on a lively pedestrian street in Galway's Latin Quarter.

IrelandBest Summer

The Neptune Fountain against the ornate gabled facades of Long Market in Gdansk's old town

PolandBest Late spring through early autumn

One of the medieval watchtowers of the Ponts Couverts standing over the River Ill in Strasbourg, half-timbered houses on the far bank and the cathedral spire rising behind under a clear blue sky.

FranceBest Spring, early autumn and the December market season

View over Lyon's rooftops and the Part-Dieu skyline from the Fourviere esplanade

FranceBest Spring and early autumn

Friends raising and clinking glasses of red wine together outdoors

FranceBest Late spring through early autumn

Sailboats moored in Marseille's Vieux-Port at golden hour, with the hilltop basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde rising above the city

FranceBest Late spring and early autumn

Breaded schnitzel served with pan-fried potatoes, a lemon wedge, and a small pot of cranberry sauce on a white plate — classic German tavern fare

GermanyBest Spring and early autumn; apple-wine taverns are cozy year-round

The tilted yellow Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) in Rotterdam

NetherlandsBest Late spring through early autumn

Gravensteen, the moated medieval Castle of the Counts in Ghent, at dusk

BelgiumBest Late spring and early autumn

A wedge of plum tart on a wooden board beside a cup of coffee, the halved purple plums set in a pale custard on a thin pastry base, in the style of the Quetschentaart baked across Luxembourg at the late-summer plum harvest.

Luxembourg City

LuxembourgBest Late spring through early autumn

The colourful pointed wooden facades of Bryggen wharf in Bergen glowing at dusk, reflected in the harbour beneath mist-covered mountains.

NorwayBest Summer

Bled Island with the Church of the Assumption and its bell tower, Bled Castle on the cliff behind and the snow-capped Karavanke range reflected in Lake Bled, Slovenia

SloveniaBest Summer for swimming; June and September for calm

A wooden platter of grilled white fish fillets with herbs, salad leaves, slices of bread and a dark dipping sauce, with a glass of beer behind

MontenegroBest Late spring and early autumn

Charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki skewers served over grilled pita and fries, with sliced tomato, onion-and-parsley salad and a pot of tzatziki.

CyprusBest April–June & September–November

Every destination here qualifies on the basis stated above, and each one is somewhere we have published guides for. Back to the full atlas.