Can you believe that a record number of Americans traveled abroad last year?

You learned about European history in high school. But now, it’s time to jump on a plane and experience it with your own eyes.

There are so many different places to visit in Europe, it’s never easy to decide where to go on your trip.

Here are the top 10 best places to visit in Europe. Let’s go!

1. London, England

The capital of England, London is home to over 8 million people and it continues to rise as the number of people moving to London are constantly increasing through the years.. This makes it the biggest city in Europe, depending on where you draw the lines.

There are so many things to do here. You need to see a West End show if you’re a theater lover.

You can go shopping on Oxford Street for just about anything. Fancy heading to the market? Check out Notting Hill for food from around the world or Borough Market for hipster essentials.

Don’t forget to visit the Queen’s residence in the capital, Buckingham Palace. You can also watch the changing of the guard.

Even though London is famously expensive, catch the bus whenever you can and visit the museums for free of charge.

2. Venice, Italy

Venice is one of the most beautiful and magical places to visit in Europe. It is known as the “floating city” because it is built on the network of canals.

You need to explore Venice on one of the iconic Gondolas. You can discover more about tours in Venice on this site.

You may eventually need to jump off the boat, to take a closer look at the stunning Gothic Architecture.

No visit to Venice is complete without a visit to the Opera. The city boasts one of the most vibrant opera scenes in the world.

3. Paris, France

The writer Oscar Wilde said, “when good Americans die, they go to Paris”. Why wait until death?

Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world. From Ernest Hemingway to Benjamin Franklin, it’s not hard to see why so many Americans have fallen in love with this city.

The city of love can be experienced strolling along the River Seine or wandering the windy streets of Paris.

Once you have ticked off the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame, you’ll be ready for some culture. Head to the Louvre to see the Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and more.

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

For many Americans, the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is famous for two things – prostitution and marijuana. But, there’s much more to this amazing European city than meets the eye.

Did you know the bikes outnumber humans in Amsterdam? Did you know the Dutch capital is one of the greenest in the world?

You get to experience the wonderful unique mix of architecture ranging from over 1,000 years ago to the 17th century to contemporary design.

Also, make sure you visit the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum for your dose of culture. Plus, the Dutch pancakes are delicious!

5. Berlin, Germany

While Berlin is famous to most Americans as the scene of murky cold-war spy dramas, the German capital has changed since then.

The famous slogan of the former Mayor, which described the city as “poor but sexy” no longer applies. The city remains sexy but it’s now a thriving tourist destination.

After you’ve walked the Berlin Wall and experienced the chilling Holocaust Memorial, you can catch some tech music at one of the many clubs.

Berlin is a foodie’s paradise. You can enjoy the top-notch Michelin star restaurants one-day and Vegan cheap eats the next.

6. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. The people speak Catalan and have a separate cultural identity.

You can get a taste of the vibrant city by walking along La Rambla which slices through the old Gothic Quarter and El Raval, where you can catch a theater show or experience the nightlife.

You can grab some of the tastiest Tapas around to eaten alongside a glass of bubbly Cava. Make sure you don’t miss Barcelona’s famous son Gaudi’s masterpieces and take a visit to the soccer stadium Camp Nou.

7. Vienna, Austria

Vienna was the imperial heat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of the First World War. Nowadays, the Austrian capital is more easy-going than its stuffy heritage.

Known as the “City of Music”, some of the greatest composers, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven made the city their home. You have to experience the Opera here!

The city has been declared as having the “highest quality of living” in the world for 9 years in a row. You only have to spend a morning drinking coffee and eating cake in one of the many Coffee Houses to realize that the pace of life is different here.

8. Dublin, Ireland

Nearly 35 million Americans have Irish ancestry. Therefore, for many Dublin has a special place in the history of the United States.

For bookish visitors, Dublin is an amazing place to trace the footsteps of the literary greats of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. You can also explore some of the best public libraries in the world here.

After this, you should head to a typical Irish pub for a pint of cold Guinness to listen to some Irish folk songs. Does it really taste better?

9. Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scottish capital is often neglected by Americans visiting Europe. However, it’s an amazing place!

If you find yourself in Edinburgh during the summer, you should definitely experience the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, one of the best comedy festivals in the world.

Walking around the old town makes you feel as though you’re living in another time altogether. You can also enjoy fine Scottish Whisky and Haggis (yes, Sheep’s insides) here.

For Harry Potter fans, this is also the city which inspired J.K. Rowling to write the books. You can visit the café where she wrote much of the book yourself.

10. Athens, Greece

Ancient Athens is largely considered to be the home of Europe’s civilization. You can still experience the Acropolis yourself.

Athens also has a thriving coffee culture and some of the yummiest food around, including Greek salads and seafood.

Places to Visit in Europe

Europe has so much to offer American tourists.

It is impossible to create the perfect list of the best places to visit in Europe since everyone has a different opinion.

However, follow our places to visit in Europe, and we hope you have an amazing time on your travels. If you want to check out our other blog posts on tourism, check us out here.