Europe: Cities and Regions

London For a true melting pot of people, places and customs you need head no further than London, Europe’s largest and most easily accessible city from the U.S. If it’s world-class museums, top-notch theatre, vibrant nightlife and dining options galore you’re after – again, London is where it’s at. Popular tourist spots – Big Ben, Parliament! – alongside enchanting neighborhoods like hipster Soho and high-brow Notting Hill make for an activity-filled trip to this cosmopolitan city, allowing you to unearth new charms while visiting your old favourites, whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth. See our London Travel Guide

Paris Ahh, Paris. Just the mere mention of it conjures up visions of romance, decadence, culture, and glamour. The capital of France tops every list as one of the world’s most fabulous cities. Sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Sacré Coeur, and the Arc de Triomphe are iconic of Paris, while famed shopping areas like the rue Faubourg-Saint-Honoré are synonymous with fashion the world over. The Louvre is just one example of Paris’ vast array of museums, while the city’s numerous café bars and restaurants never fail to enrapture even the most seasoned traveler. See our Paris Travel Guide

Rome Visit Rome, and you’ll find that around every corner awaits an ancient monument, Renaissance gem, or famed monument. With so much to see, one must prioritize – the Roman Forum and the Coliseum can’t be missed, of course, but no visit would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, the world’s smallest country and site of one of the world’s greatest works of art, the Sistine Chapel. Other popular attractions within Rome include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. See our Rome Travel Guide

France Great wine, great food, great landscapes, and great cities – these are the core constituents of France. So it’s little wonder then that it ranks as the world’s most-popular tourist destination. Whether skiing in the French Alps or surfing in the Bay of Biscay; cruising down the river Loire in a canal barge or romancing in Paris; taking in the glitz and glam of the French Riviera or sipping local red wine in Bordeaux; whatever you want to do, and however you want to do it, you can find it France. See our France Travel Guide

Italy Italy has something for everyone – Roman ruins and Renaissance art; alpine villages and glorious beach resorts; sleepy villages in the Tuscan hills and the glitz and glam of Milan. The capital, Rome, with its ancient ruins is a must-see for first-time visitors, as is Venice, with its gondolas and maze of narrow streets. Florence is tops for art lovers, while fashionistas will enjoy all that Milan has to offer. Naples, with its bustling streets and proximity to the ancient remains of Pompeii, as well as the Amalfi and Sorrento coasts, can’t be missed. See our Italy Travel Guide

Amsterdam Circled by a series of canals and with an architectural style all of its own, along with countless parks and squares, Amsterdam is one of the nicest cities in Europe in which to stroll. Major attractions include the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank’s House, and the popular Heineken beer factory. No trip to Amsterdam would be complete, however, without some sightseeing at a “brown” café (selling marijuana) and the Red Light district, where prostitution is tolerated. See our Amsterdam Travel Guide

Berlin Though modern-day Berlin does acknowledge its past in many of the main tourist attractions – the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and what remains of the Berlin Wall – areas like Mitte (in former-East Berlin) are thriving cultural centers with a vibrant arts and dance music scene that bears little resemblance to the days of Communist rule. Berlin boasts a plethora of museums – among the best are the Paul Libeskind–designed Jewish Museum and the Egyptian Museum, which houses one of the most important collections of Egyptian artifacts in the world. See our Berlin Travel Guide

Dubrovnik Croatia’s most popular tourist destination, Dubrovnik is a beautiful medieval city which has changed very little over the centuries. Though shelled by the Serbs in the early 1990s, through local and international efforts the city has been restored to its former glory. The Old Town has only two entrances and is surrounded by tall ramparts. Dubrovnik has numerous cafés and restaurants, many facing the picturesque harbor. Nearby attractions include the island of Lokrum, Mount Srd and the Bosnian town of Mostar. See our Croatia Travel Guide

Greek Islands Steeped in history, the Greek Islands offer a picture-perfect image of Mediterranean island life. There are over 1,400 Greek Islands in total, but only seventy or so have a population of over 100 people. Popular islands include: Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands and home to the ancient Minoan culture; Santorini, famous for its stunning views and picturesque towns; Mykonos, the most popular island in the Aegean, with white washed buildings and lively atmosphere and Rhodes, famous for its ancient harbor, popular resorts and good beaches. See our Greek Islands Travel Guide

Portugal As the Western-most country in continental Europe, Portugal is a tantalizing mix of beach resorts, historic towns and beautiful scenery. The Algarve, on the south coast of Portugal is a popular tourist destination, renowned for year-long sunshine, golf courses and beach resorts. Lisbon, the capital, is a cultural melting-pot of architectural wonders and betrays Portugal’s past as a colonial superpower. To the north, Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and is famed for producing port. Inland, the medieval university city of Coimbra has an inviting Latin American feel. See our Portugal Travel Guide

Eastern Europe Though much of Eastern Europe will defy your expectations about what post-communist countries should look like, it is fair to say change has been more rapid to reach some regions than others. Either way, a visit to Eastern Europe will be a markedly different experience than any trip to Western Europe. For fantastical cities, head to Prague, St. Petersburg, or Krakow. For stunning scenery, the Transylvanian Mountains or the developed Black Sea resorts of Bulgaria will delight. Both are reasons novice and seasoned travelers alike flock to Eastern Europe. See our Eastern Europe Travel Guide

French Riviera The Côte d’Azur, better known as the French Riviera, has been heavily influenced by its connection to the Mediterranean and its culture of relaxation and sun-worshipping. Olive groves and vineyards dot the countryside, especially in the villages along the region's eastern edge. These, along with Nice, the Riviera's largest city, bear similarities to those in neighboring Italy. It is a glamorous and popular destination, boasting such renowned resorts as St. Tropez and Cannes, while farther inland, sleepy Provençal villages and café culture is, for many visitors, quintessential France. See our French Riviera Travel Guide