When visiting a place, it is human nature to immediately make a beeline for its most popular attraction. Unfortunately, thousands (if not millions) of other people think the same way, and as a result, there can be huge crowds, pollution and price hikes. And what happens if the 'amazing' attraction is not all it’s cracked up to be?
Before you book a European city break with the aim of seeing its iconic castle, tower, palace, bridge, museum or theme park, click through this gallery to uncover a few alternatives...
London's Westminster Palace, which houses both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, sits prettily on the banks of the Thames, while Big Ben is at the north end of the complex. The monumental clock has rung through the reign of seven different monarchs, 42 prime ministers and featured in hundreds of Hollywood movies. Tours of Westminster Palace aren’t exactly cheap, though, and tickets can be hard to get hold of.
The grand Hungarian Parliament is one of Europe’s finest legislative buildings, and an unmissable architectural focal point in the centre of Budapest. Situated on the Danube River, it's the world's third largest parliament building and is equally photogenic day and night. Although it is stunning from the outside, you can also purchase tickets for a 45-minute tour of the interior with an audioguide or a professional tour guide in many languages.
The jaw-dropping Sagrada Familia church, located in the centre of Barcelona's Eixample district, is the work of genius architect Antoni Gaudi, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to Gaudi’s grave. Visitors there are likely to experience queuing during peak season, and although it is one of Spain’s most beloved monuments, it’s technically unfinished. Building works are scheduled to be completed in 2026.
While most of Gaudi’s work is in Barcelona itself, if you’re a true fan of the architect, then head to Colonia Guell Church in the quieter town of Santa Coloma de Cervello. Patron Eusebi Guell, who commissioned Gaudi to design the eponymous Park Guell in Barcelona, also asked him to design a church for the workers of his textile factory. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned in 1914 and only the crypt was completed. But inside, there is a marvel of inclined columns, ribbed arches and stained-glass windows.
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Construction of the Eternal City’s Colosseum was begun under Emperor Vespasian around AD 70. In its heyday, as many as 50,000 spectators could be comfortably seated in the amphitheatre. Between March and October, the Colosseum is always crowded, as is the nearby Forum, which was once the centre of daily life in ancient Rome; it encompasses a basilica, temples, churches and the original seat of the Roman senate. However, Rome can get stiflingly hot during the summer months.
Completed around AD 68, the magnificent Pula Arena beside the sparkling Adriatic Sea is one of the best preserved ancient Roman amphitheatres in the world. Once used for gladiator fights, it is now an outdoor cinema, opera venue and stage for concerts. Visitors can roam freely through the small underground chambers and enjoy the sweeping ocean views. There is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to viticulture and olive growing in the surrounding Istria region.
While it is one of the world’s most recognisable structures, the iconic Eiffel Tower hasn’t always been popular. When Gustave Eiffel dreamed up the monument for the 1889 World's Fair, hundreds of artists, writers and thinkers signed a petition to have it removed. Today over seven million visitors per year flock to the 1,083-foot (330m) Iron Lady and see the views of the City of Light from its observation deck. Of course, that means it comes at a cost, and there are large queues – especially from June to September.
If you want some of the best views of Paris away from the tourist crowds, then ascend the 276 steps to the Pantheon’s viewing platform. Renovation work to the dome was completed in 2016, and visitors can walk around it to get 360-degree views of the French capital, including the Notre-Dame cathedral, the Montparnasse Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and, of course, the Eiffel Tower. As only 50 people at a time are allowed up, you won’t be competing to get the best view.
With a surface area of more than 224 square miles (580sq km), Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps is one of the largest lakes in western Europe. From powdery slopes that are perfect for skiing and zipline adventures, to indulgent spa treatments and antique shops, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy along its stunning shoreline. While it has long been considered as a near-pristine body of water, recent research has found that it has high plastic pollution levels.
A little white church perched on an island in the middle of an emerald-green glacial lake, overlooked by a castle at the foothills of the imposing Julian Alps – Lake Bled in Slovenia is what most people would imagine a fairytale kingdom to look like. In fact, parts of the film adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia were actually filmed in the nearby Soca Valley. While the lakeside town of Bled is relatively small, it is popular with locals and tourists who picnic along the shore, paddle in traditional pletna boats and stroll along trails plied by horse and carriages.
Located slap-bang in the centre of Brussels, La Grand Place is one of the most beautiful market squares in the world. At its heart is the 15th-century city hall, adorned with gilded statues and intricate symbols. Crowds of tourists and groups tend to fill the square throughout the year, including in the winter to see the city’s Christmas tree and nativity scene. As a result there is a fair bit of commercialisation, with chains of shops and cafes flooding the surrounding area.
The 40,000-square-foot (3,716sqm) Rynek Głowny in the centre of Krakow’s medieval Old Town is a medley of cafes, museums, clubs, bars, souvenir shops, flower stalls, historical landmarks and hotels. However, it's also stocked with some of the most magnificent medieval architecture in the world. Within the square, you will find several museums and two churches. In between the street musicians, listen out for the trumpet call played from St Mary’s tower every hour.
As well as being one of Europe’s most beautiful bridges, the Charles Bridge across Prague's Vltava river is also one of Czechia’s most popular attractions. Charles IV ordered construction of the 16 stone arches in 1357, and for more than six centuries, the bridge has survived occasional flood damage, wheeled traffic and wars. Around 30,000 people head here each day, and you will be joining an army of tourists attempting to squeeze through a gauntlet of hawkers and buskers.
Mostar Bridge, known in Bosnian as Stari Most ('old bridge'), is a reconstructed 16th-century Ottoman bridge in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It has a colourful history and was destroyed during the Bosnian War on 9 November 1993, by Croat military forces. Reconstructed in the early 21st century following the establishment of a committee of experts by UNESCO, it is now a popular tourist destination, and the location of cliff-diving competitions.
Set in the shade of the Sierra Nevada range, the Alhambra is one of the finest Islamic buildings in Europe, encompassing endless rooms, symmetrical gardens and opulent halls, including the ornate Sala de los Embajadores. It was built by the Moorish Nasrid Dynasty in the 13th century, atop an old Roman fortress. Reaching the Alhambra can be strenuous if you are unfit, as it is atop a large hill. Other complaints levelled against it include a complicated booking system, poor signage, graffiti, litter and huge crowds.
The Mezquita-Catedral (mosque-cathedral) in Cordoba, Andalusia – officially known by its ecclesiastical name of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption – is another great example of Moorish architecture. Construction began in AD 784-786, during a time known as the Umayyad Caliphate. In 1236, the city of Cordoba was retaken by the Christians who, luckily, decided not to destroy the Mezquita – significant Christian additions were later made to the structure in the 16th century. A tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site begins at the Orange Tree Courtyard.
With around 785,765 square feet (73,000sqm) of surface area, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world. It holds some of the world’s most prized paintings, including the Mona Lisa and Liberty Leading the People, plus sculptures (such as the ancient Greek Venus de Milo and Michelangelo's Slave statues) – all spanning some 11,000 years of civilisation. It is so big, that it would take over one hundred days to see all 35,000 works. There's also a sizeable entrance fee to get into the Louvre.
The national museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum is devoted to Dutch art and history. It houses a collection of 1.1 million items, with highlights including works by Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer. In 2023, its blockbuster Vermeer show became the most visited exhibition in its history. The Rijksmuseum is situated in the museum quarter, so you can pop next door to the Concertgebouw, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum – and buy an I Amsterdam city card to enter them all.
Greece’s most famous monument was built in the latter half of the 5th century BC on the order of Pericles, an Athenian statesman. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. Despite the Acropolis being one of the most impressive temples ever built in the history of mankind, in recent years, it has had a fair few negative reviews from tourists who have made the climb up to the busy pile of ruins.
Instead of trudging around sweltering Athens, head to the beautiful island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, which is just a one-hour ferry ride from the Greek capital. As well as some amazing seaside scenery (and a refreshing breeze) you’ll also see the Temple of Aphaia – a sanctuary complex dedicated to a local goddess, with a small museum next to it. This large temple resembles the Parthenon with its many Doric columns and it is remarkably intact. Aegina is also famous for growing tasty pistachios.
England's Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Its history dates back almost one thousand years and it is home to the tombs of 11 British sovereigns, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II. These days, the castle is mostly used for ceremonial and state occasions but visitors are allowed to roam around certain areas, including the State Apartments, which are furnished with fine art from the Royal Collection. However, admission tickets are pricey and there is airport-style queuing to get into the grounds.
As well as being a spectacular castle in its own right, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland was used as a filming location for the first two Harry Potter films. The boy wizard and his classmates learned to fly broomsticks and play Quidditch on the Outer Bailey. You can walk around the castle’s courtyards and buildings, trying to spot where Harry, Ron, Hermione and co walked to class, Hagrid’s hut and the Forbidden Forest. The Alnwick Garden, set around a cascading fountain, is also worth a visit.
Thanks to the popularity of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has become one of Europe’s most visited tourist destinations – and the city is easily accessible by cruise ships and cheap flight connections. Its spectacular defining feature, the medieval stone walls, are considered to be among the greatest fortifications of the Middle Ages. While only around 1,500 inhabitants live within the city walls, they are overwhelmed by tourists – so much so that in 2016, UNESCO recommended that visitors be limited to 8,000 per day.
While a popular destination, Sibenik still has a very local feel to it. Located 172 miles (278km) north of Dubrovnik, it was founded in the 9th century by Slavs – the only city in the region founded by them – and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the 15th-century Cathedral of St James and the 16th-century St Nicholas Fortress. If you want to walk the city walls, head to the fortresses of St Nicholas, St Michael and Barone. While the experience is pretty close to what you'd get in Dubrovnik, the views are arguably more stunning.
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is as showstopping tourist attractions go, but it’s actually a man-made complex fed by runoff water from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant. Once one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets, locals started to bathe in the mineral-rich milky waters in the 1980s. But with increasing crowds, volcanic activity in the area and new alternative pools having opened recently, is the Blue Lagoon still the place to go?
If you’re visiting north Iceland, head to the Myvatn lake region to explore its lunar landscape, belching mudpots and steaming fumaroles. There’s a road that takes you right around the lake, and another road leading eastwards will take you to Myvatn Nature Baths. Its blue waters are supplied straight from a bore hole in Bjarnarflag geothermal power station. It’s much smaller than the Blue Lagoon, and the entrance fee is less than half of its Grindavik counterpart.
Among the world’s most-photographed waterways, Venice’s Grand Canal leads up to the bustling St Mark’s Square before spilling out into the Venetian Lagoon. Like most tourist hotspots, the City of Canals is a victim of degradation and unscrupulous visitors. The latter regularly leave their waste on the ground, and unfortunately, some of it ends up in the canals. In order to protect the lagoon, the Venice authorities are clamping down on mass tourism by banning large cruise ships from the historic centre and limiting the number of daily tickets for its attractions.
If you want to avoid the mass tourism in Venice, head over to the Grand Est region of France and the underrated medieval city of Strasbourg, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. You will be able to visit easily without a car thanks to a 373-mile (600km) network of bike paths covering the urban area. Strasbourg is full of history and half-timbered buildings, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars with street seating, tempting bakeries, walk-up gelaterias and shopping.
Around 10 million people are drawn to Disneyland Paris every year to get up close to Mickey and friends and experience that famous Disney sparkle. There are new openings all the time, including royally reimagined 5-star Disneyland Hotel, complete with Elsa Ice Palace and Cinderella suites. However, the room prices for many hotels in the area are astronomical, as are the entrance fees to the popular theme park – plus you'll need to purchase food and drink when you’re in there. And then there’s the queues for the rides…
While Mickey and Minnie rule the roost in Paris, in Spain it's the Muppets' Grover, Big Bird and Animal who will capture your imagination. PortAventura World has built a huge fan base since opening in 1995. It comprises five 'worlds' – Mediterrania, Far West, Mexico, China and Polynesia – as well as a Sesame Street area. It also includes reasonably priced 4-star and 5-star hotels, three golf courses, a waterpark and Ferrari Land. The weather tends to be better in Spain than in northern France too.
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