Top 20 must-see places to visit in Europe2026 ranking

The Palace of Holyroodhouse (the holy cross), right next to the former abbey of the same name, sits at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle from the Royal Mile, and at the foot of Arthur's Seat. Unlike the Castle, the area around the Palace is much less lively. The Palace itself: you follow a self-guided route with audio guide commentary that leads you to the royal bedrooms and Mary Stuart's reception room, where her private secretary was murdered right in front of her by her husband. The tour lets you learn a lot about the Crown of Scotland, the Stuart dynasty, and how it joined with the British crown. The rooms still have their period furniture and decor (the royal family still visits…

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Built on an ancient volcano, the castle houses several buildings from different eras. According to the guide, the site has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, which apparently is a European record (though I have my doubts about that). I recommend taking the guided tour to get lots of info and fun facts about the castle and Scotland, from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and all the way up to the recent world wars. Try to be there in person if you want to catch the cannon firing, the one o'clock gun. From the ramparts, you get a lovely view of the surrounding area.

Great free museum in the Old Town that I found really interesting to visit.The central gallery under its glass roof is impressive.The dinosaur and extinct animal skeletons, stuffed animals, and fossils are well worth a look.What I really thought was awesome is the science wing, where you can see planes, Formula 1 cars, steam engines, but above all, numerous interactive workshops let you experiment in a fun way to understand a few scientific principles. Example: how the shape of airplane wings makes things fly, how pulleys make heavy weights easier to lift, how heated air makes hot air balloons rise... Kids and adults alike have a blast testing all of it!

Pretty large and varied free botanical garden with different recreated regions, from China to American giant sequoias, passing through the Alps. I would have loved to see the palm greenhouses, but they are under construction until October 2026 I believe.

Pretty physical climb, takes a good hour, with a few pretty steep sections. There is even a stretch where I was a bit dizzy, the narrow trail runs alongside a pretty steep slope. This is not a climb I would do with young kids or people with limited mobility. The effort is rewarded by an impressive panorama of Edinburgh, the sea, the region. Minor disappointment: I was expecting to see a bit more wildlife (birds, animals, flowers, flora...). That said, a fire (it happens even in Scotland now!) had burned part of the mountain a few weeks before my visit.

What a lovely surprise the perched town of Krujë is! We had noted it as a stop on our road trip, but the little street where the bazaar is located is truly charming, and it is a pleasure to visit the castle while eating on a terrace with an unbeatable view of the surroundings! I recommend it as a day trip from Tirana or as a stop if you are heading up to the Albanian Alps!

The Naia Museum is set in the ruins of the Rochefort-en-Terre castle, and named in tribute to the famous witch of the same name who used to live in those ruins. (By the way, I definitely recommend looking her up!) It is a museum of fantastic and visionary art, the only one of its kind in France! The visit is totally magical and unforgettable. If you love fantasy and magical worlds, this is a spot you should not miss under any circumstances! From the rooms to the museum basement, the visit will not disappoint you :)

Berat, its citadel, and its castle are truly lovely places to visit during your time in Albania! The best way to explore is to just get lost in the little streets and discover things as you go. I am always fascinated by the diversity of cultures that live side by side in Albania, and Berat is living proof of that! Make sure to head over to Gorica on the other side of the river, which is just as nice to explore with a great view of Berat as a bonus!

Rennes Cathedral is impressive from the outside when you gaze at the facade. But do not stop at that first impression! You will be surprised by the richness and complexity of its interior decorations, which will delight any fan of religious art. Right next door, do not miss a visit to the Mordelaises Gates, remains of the old fortifications that surrounded the city back in the Middle Ages!

Very poor reception at Calvi Harbor, the harbor master's office is not friendly to boaters, we paid €50 for an offshore mooring and had no access to the restrooms because "that depends on the leniency of the harbor master's office." We will not be coming back and do not recommend this port, even though the town seems very nice.