Rick Steves' European favorites: How to enjoy Ireland, the UK and beyond

In Dublin, it's more important than ever to buy advance tickets for the most popular sights. These include Kilmainham Gaol, a museum housed in a former prison for political prisoners, where guided tours are the only way you can visit.

If you don't book in advance for the Guinness Storehouse, you'll waste time waiting in long ticket lines and may not even get a chance to to sip its famous stout while admiring the Dublin skyline.

If buying same-day tickets to Dublin's Book of Kells, you'll find few crowds at the side-entrance ticket kiosks.

Advance planning is also necessary if you're planning to visit a few popular sights near the town of Portrush, on the northern coast. To walk across Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, dramatically suspended above the Antrim Coast, it's smart to buy timed-entry tickets ahead of your visit (now available online).

Residents of Northern Ireland are wrestling with the effects of Brexit. But tourists aren't likely to experience any significant impacts: In 2020, Rick Steves expects a visit to Northern Ireland to be just as easy as ever – and probably even more interesting.

The United Kingdom formally exited the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020. So how does Brexit affect American tourists planning visits for later this year? So far, Europe travel expert Rick Steves says the impact on visitors is minimal, aside from one thing: a more favorable exchange rate thanks to the British pound's falling value.

Timed-entry tickets and advance reservations are becoming increasingly popular throughout Europe, as popular sights grapple with growing crowds. Britain is no exception. Book early for anything involving the royal family, like the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey.

It's also a good idea to buy tickets in advance to tour the Tower of London, where royal and aristocratic heads once rolled. Other attractions where you might want to book advance tickets include the Churchill War Rooms, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, London Eye and any West End play you're set on seeing.

Kensington Palace, where current royals like Prince William and Duchess Kate lay their heads is the site of some construction work. The famous tea service has been moved from the Orangery (which is undergoing a multi-year restoration) to the Palace Pavilion.

Visitors using London's underground will notice construction for Crossrail, the first new line since 1999. However, the new line's debut has been pushed back to 2021.

Another promised improvement in international train travel – direct Eurostar train service from Amsterdam to London – is also delayed beyond 2020. (Until then, travelers need to change in Brussels for passport control.) At least travelers going in the other direction, from London to Amsterdam, do already have direct-train options (three direct trains per day).

Some attractions outside of London may also necessitate booking ahead, such as the childhood homes of Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon in Liverpool.

If you want to see Stonehenge, plan ahead and book tour tickets in advance.

A new welcome center and gallery will open this spring at Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Dove Cottage, the Lake District home of English poet William Wordsworth's home, will reopen as Wordsworth Grasmere this spring to mark his 250th birthday.

A new steel footbridge joins the two parts of Cornwall's Tintagel Castle, which is said to be the birthplace of King Arthur.

Scotland's second-biggest city, Glasgow, is making its city center – including the shopping thoroughfare of Sauchiehall Street – friendlier to pedestrians and bicyclists with wider sidewalks, bike lanes and seating. But to help cut back on traffic, parking and bus routes are being reduced on some streets.

With many Americans planning summer trips, Steves has provided a roundup of what you need to know before visiting Italy this year, such as venues that require advance reservations and changes to local transportation that may affect you on the ground. For instance, tickets for Rome's Colosseum can sell out weeks in advance, so be sure to book well ahead of time.

Sitting on Rome's famous Spanish Steps will now get you a fine of more than $275, so find a seat elsewhere.

Buying a Firenze card no longer comes with line-skipping privilege. That means it's more important than ever to book ahead for Florence's Uffizi Gallery and Accademia (with Michelangelo's David).

You must make advance reservations to see Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" at Milan's Vinciano Cenacle Museum. Other venues with mandatory-reservation policies include Rome's Borghese Gallery, Florence's Brancacci Chapel and Padua's Scrovegni Chapel.

Book your tour of the Vatican Museums early or you may not get that photo Bramante's spiral staircase for your Instagram page. You can book through October.

Padua's Scrovegni Chapel, where art lovers flock to experience Giotto's beautifully preserved frescoes, now lets peak-season visitors book nighttime visits (between 7 and 10 p.m.). Evening visits almost always guarantee a less-crowded experience.

If you're planning to visit Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, consider taking the Campania Express tourist train. It runs several times a day in peak season along the same tracks as the Circumvesuviana commuter train but is less crowded, more secure and air-conditioned.

Some venues are extending hours to keep up with demand. In Venice, the Doge's Palace is now open in peak season until 9 p.m., and even later on weekends.

Meanwhile, ground transportation in always-crowded Naples will be trickier in 2020 thanks to the temporary closure of the tram that connects the cruise port to the city center.

With Paris' famed Notre Dame out of commission for the foreseeable future, Steves highlights four other spectacular French Gothic cathedrals around the country.

Like the Parisian Notre Dame, Chartres' cathedral southwest of Paris also suffered a catastrophic fire. It burned to the ground in 1194; yet it took just 30 years to rebuild – astonishing when you consider it took centuries to build cathedrals such as Paris' Notre Dame.

The pointed arches of Gothic cathedrals allow for dramatic stained-glass windows, such as the ones in Notre Dame de Chartres, a town about an hour southwest of Paris.

What visitors see now is a unity of architecture, statuary and stained glass – such as Chartres' rose window – that captures the spirit of the 13th century "Age of Faith" like no other church.

Rouen's cathedral was constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries, though lightning strikes, wars (the cathedral was accidentally bombed in World War II) and other destructive forces meant constant rebuilding. It's in Normandy, northwest of Paris.

Rouen's famous Escalier de la Librairie (Booksellers' Stairway) rises from a tiny balcony just to the left of the transept.

The centerpiece of a small town, Bayeux's cathedral is as large as Paris' Notre-Dame. Like its Parisian relative, its soaring ceiling and stain glass windows are made possible by "flying buttresses," or stone arches that reach up from the ground to push back inward on relatively weak external walls, thereby supporting the roof.

Bayeux's interior is also a mix of styles, with solid round arches in the nave's ground level supporting gracefully Gothic upper stories that soar high above. Historians believe the Bayeux tapestry, the 70-yard-long embroidery telling the story of William the Conqueror's victory in the Battle of Hastings, was originally designed to, and did, encircle the nave.

The most impressive Gothic church in eastern France is in Strasbourg, where its venerable cathedral — another "Notre-Dame" — is a true jaw-dropper.

This Gothic spectacle somehow survived the French Revolution, the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars.

The interior of Notre Dame de Strausbourg is worth savoring slowly, with its wide nave, exquisite gold-leaf organ and elaborately carved stone pulpit. Its Renaissance astronomical clock, pictured here, is a masterpiece in its own. It puts on a parade of apostles every day at 12:30 p.m.

Wandering through cheery downtown modern-day Belfast, Steves finds it hard to believe that the bright and bustling pedestrian center had been a subdued, traffic-free security zone two decades ago.

The historic Titanic Quarter — the former shipbuilding district now filled with museums, entertainment, and posh condos — symbolizes the rise of Belfast. Next to the original slipways where the Titanic was built, the massive Titanic Belfast museum commemorates Belfast's prolific shipbuilding industry.

Belfast's Titanic Quarter was also home base for "Game of Thrones" through much of the HBO juggernaut's eight-season run. In 2014, the cast, including Queen Cersei herself, Lena Headey (left), welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to their studios to check out the Iron Throne in person.

Belfast's city hall houses a history exhibit documenting the history of the capital from the bombings of World War II to the Troubles. It also faces the city's commercial hub, Donegall Place.

Murals depicting the struggle between Republicans (who want a united Ireland) and the British government and Loyalists (who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom) still dot the city today, nearly 22 years after the Good Friday accords officially ended the Troubles.

Explore the sectarian neighborhoods of Belfast with a local guide who can offer insights and commentary on the area's political murals.

While Belfast has come a long way, relations between the capital's sectarian neighborhoods remain strained. To get the full story, it's important to visit the working-class neighborhoods of both sides: the Shankill Road and Sandy Row areas (Protestant) and the Falls Road district (Catholic).

Milltown Cemetery Belfast is the largest Catholic burial ground in Belfast and the final resting place of freedom fighters who went to jail or died for the cause of Irish independence.

The essential elements of the French Riviera — azure water, blue sky and endless sunshine — appeal to vacationers and artists alike in places like Nice.

The Chagall Museum in Nice, France, was purpose-built during the artist's lifetime to present his biblical paintings.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Roman Forum, the Capitoline Museums hold more of ancient Rome's most impressive art. Highlights include an equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Ten minutes from Rome's crowded Colosseum stand the Baths of Caracalla. This site is dramatic in part because nothing was built around or on top of it – and few people visit it. Today, if you bring a fertile imagination, it's a wonderful place to picture Rome at its zenith.

The often-overlooked Albertina Museum takes up a far-flung corner of the Vienna's extensive Hofburg Palace complex. This laid-back museum has a remarkable collection of minor works by major artists, including sketches, woodcuts, and watercolors.

Savvy visitors to. St. Petersburg buy their Hermitage tickets at the Impressionist galleries (where it's almost always less crowded), see this collection first, then head for the highlights in the main complex.

One of Steves' favorite times of year to visit Europe is in winter – and not just for the skiing.

In Paris, hundreds of fresh-cut fir trees line the Champs-Elysées, sparkling with a dazzling display of lights for the holidays.

London dressed in its holiday best.

The red booths at the Christmas market at Germany's Cologne Cathedral look like Christmas gifts.

Frankfurt is one of several German cities that host outdoor Christmas markets.

Visit Rome in winter and you can enjoy St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Angelo bridge minus the usual crowds.

Spain, which is often too hot in summer and fall, is quite mild in winter.

Already done Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Try Venice during Carnival.

Rick Steves, American travel writer, author, activist and television personality, shares his candid opinions on the best destinations in Europe. Budapest's single best attraction: steamy Széchenyi Thermal Bath in City Park.

St. Michael's Gate is the last surviving tower of Bratislava's medieval city wall.

Tomar is a quaint town in Portugal of about 20,000 residents, set under a historic fortress. It's a place with lots of local ambiance that the tourists have yet to discover.

Tomar's Praça da República is a classic Portuguese square where you can relax at a café and enjoy the Old World scene.

Walls surround the Convento de Cristo, a onetime stronghold of the Knights of Templar.

The church inside Tomar's Convento de Cristo, designed at the height of Portugal's sea power, is covered with elaborate motifs.

When Steve really wants to get a sense of European history, he visits graveyards.

Steves doesn't believe that spooky graveyard visits should be limited to October.  Nor are you done with your cemetery tour after you pay your respects to Doors singer Jim Morrison and writer Oscar Wilde at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

In Italy, Naples' Cemetery of the Fountains (Cimitero delle Fontanelle) houses the remains of paupers and plague victims. Eventually, locals started "adopting" them and giving them names.

The Capuchin Crypt in Palermo, Sicily, displays mummified bodies – complete with clothing – intended to remind the living that life is temporary.

During the plague, bodies at Aître de Saint Maclou in Rouen, France, were processed "Breaking Bad" style – as in, melted down with lime to speed up decomposition.

Even if you can't read Romanian, the images displayed on the graves at Merry Cemetery speak volumes about the people who are buried there.

In Ireland, Brú na Bóinne (Boyne Valley) is home to two massive grass-covered burial mounds built atop separate hills, each with a chamber inside reached by a narrow stone passage.

As far as Rick Steves is concerned, when visiting Florence, a visitor is duty-bound to explore the city's cuisine and go beyond pizza and pasta. But be warned: If you're eating on the sidewalk, it had better be at a table or you'll face a hefty fine.

The heart of the food scene in Florence is the trendy Industrial Age, steel-and-glass Mercato Centrale (Central Market). Along with all the must-see museums, this market is one of the great sights in Florence.

The ground floor is a thriving edible wonderland of vendors selling meat, fish, produce, and other staples to a mostly local clientele. And the upstairs is a bustling food court open late into the evening.

Florence's Mercato Centrale bursts with colorful meats, olives, produce, and cheeses – perfect for cobbling together a fresh Florentine picnic.

When Steves is looking for the most authentic ambience and better-quality food, he hikes across the Arno River to the quiet Oltrarno neighborhood.

Oltrarno is where you'll find the est (and most expensive) bistecca alla Florentina (thick, grilled T-bone steak). It comes from the white Chianina breed of cattle you'll see grazing throughout Tuscany.

This way to a favorite lunch of Florentines: panino (sandwich) of trippa or lampredotto – the lining from the second and fourth stomach of a cow, respectively – slow-boiled to tender perfection.

Taking a hands-on cooking class with a small group is about the most perfect – and memorable – way to experience Florence's cuisine. 
Opt for classes in a real kitchen environment with a small group. 

After spending a couple of hours cooking, everyone sits down to a hard-earned (if not always flawlessly executed) meal. They'll usually send you on your way with the recipes you prepared that day.

One of Steves' favorite spots is Normandy. Located on France's northwest coast, across the English Channel from Dover, it's been the site of monumental historic events and boasts cuisine as good as what you'd find in Paris.

For Americans, Normandy is synonymous with World War II. The site of the D-Day invasions, it's where some 156,000 Allied troops – many of them American, British and Canadian – landed on June 6, 1944. From there, they moved inland towards Paris, liberating the French capital from four years of Nazi occupation more than two months later.

More than 34,000 Americans came ashore at Omaha Beach, where 2,500 Americans were killed, wounded or missing. That's a third of the U.S. losses suffered on D-Day.

Omaha Beach as it appears today.

In this photo from June 9, 1944, troops take shelter behind a sea wall at Utah Beach while awaiting orders to move inland.

Three days earlier,  23,250 U.S. troops disembarked at Utah Beach.  In contrast to the heavy losses at Omaha, fewer than 200 were killed at Utah.

In 2014, D-Day veteran Frederick Carrier, returned to Utah Beach to visit the monument he created 70 years earlier.

Located atop a former German bunker, Carrier built it with the help of a dozen German POWs that October to honor the 171 men from his unit who died there.

Visitors peer out from a German machine-gun bunker at Pointe du Hoc, the highest piece of land between Omaha and Utah Beaches.

Here's a glimpse of that same machine-gun bunker from the air.

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, more than 200 U.S. Army Rangers scaled Pointe du Hoc's 100-foot cliffs from the sea below to take out German machine-gun bunkers before they could wipe out Allied troops coming ashore.

Current Army Rangers, dressed in World War II-era uniforms, re-enated the feat for the 75th anniversary in June 2019.

Steve Melnikoff, part of the Omaha Beach invasion force, returned 75 years later and took part in a memorial ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in  Colleville-sur-Mer.

According to the American Battle Monuments Commission website, nearly 9,4000 war dead are buried at the Normandy American Cemetery. Nearly an additional 1,600 names are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing.

Pictured here are the remains of Mulberry Harbour, a man-made, temporary port that was hauled across the English Channel from England to Arromanches, France.

While troops did not land here on D-Day itself, Mulberry allowed the Allies to unload 2.5 million men, 500,000 vehicles and 4 million tons of supplies close to the invasion site.

Of course, D-Day isn't the only famous invasion associated with Normandy. In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, took the fight in the opposite direction, invading England. The 230-foot Bayeux Tapestry details that conquest.

Today, the Bayeux Tapestry is housed at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. However, it was displayed annually at Bayeux Cathedral every July for centuries.

The Normade cow, a brown-and-white spotted breed, was almost wiped out during the 1944 Allied invasion but has since rebounded. Each day,  it puts out five gallons of milk high in butterfat, which is used in the region's renowned cheeses and cream sauces.

The cows produce half of the four Cs for which Normandy is known: Camembert and cream. The other two – Calvados (apple brandy) and cider come from the region's orchards.

If you have a couple of days budgeted to spend in Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel is a worthy detour on the way to or from Paris. The 8th-century Benedictine abbey atop the fortress is surrounded by the village of Avranches.

Depending on what part of the month you visit, the tide turns Mont St. Michel into an island. During the lowest tide, you can walk around it the island. But water completely surrounds during at the highest tide phases (after full and new moons), all the way up the walls. The Office of Tourism provides a tide schedule so you'll know which version you'll be getting.

Steves is also fond of St. Andrews, Scotland, an easy day trip from Edinburgh.

The chance to play on the world's oldest course – or at least take in the iconic view of its 18th hole – keeps the town perennially popular among golfing pilgrims. But to reserve a tee time at the scenic Old Course of the St. Andrews Links, you'll need to book a year ahead — and pay a pretty penny.

Fans of Britain's royal family know St. Andrews for its eponymous university, which is where Prince William and the former Kate Middleton met as students.

Will and Kate weren't the only members of the royal family to spend their formative years in and around St. Andrews. His great grandmother, the Queen Mother, grew up about an hour away at Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland.

St. Andrews Cathedral may have rotted away, but its beautiful ruins — with walls and spires pecked away by centuries of scavengers — are a delight to explore.

For the most insightful views of the continent's most impressive structures, he recommends taking the stairs.

For instance, ascending Paris' Eiffel Tower is one of Europe's great travel thrills. For hardy visitors, it's cheaper and less crowded to climb the stairs. It's quite a hike – 720 steps up to the second level (the top level is only accessible via elevator), so Steves prefers to take the stairs down.

Descending the Eiffel Tower via the stairs takes minutes, and it gives you an up-close look at Gustave Eiffel's amazing engineering.

Climb the stairs to the second level of the Eiffel Tower and you'll be treated to this view of Monteparnasse.

After German reunification, the historic ruin of Berlin's Reichstag was rebuilt with a modern element: a striking glass dome.

A walkway winds all the way to the top, providing 360-degree views. Climbers see forests of skyscrapers interspersed with historic sights, such as the nearby Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Cathedral's massive copper dome.

Want to climb it? Be sure to make reservations first.

Though Florence's Duomo was built when the Gothic style dominated Europe, the Florentines decided not to cap their cathedral with a spire, leaving it with a gaping hole while waiting for technology to catch up with the city's vision for a dome instead. In 1420, Filippo Brunelleschi won the job and built the dome that kicked off the architectural Renaissance.

The top of Florence's famous dome is encircled by a tiny terrace that rewards climbers with fine views over the city.

While climbing the 463 steps inside Florence's dome, visitors get a glimpse of the Last Judgment ceiling fresco by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari.

In Milan, a highlight is strolling the rooftop of the city's cathedral (duomo) and the third-largest church in Europe.

The marble stairs at Milan's Duomo allow you to get a close look at each of its 135 spires and other details.

Steves most memorable stair climb was Rome's Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) next to the Church of San Giovanni in Laterano. n AD 326, Emperor Constantine's mother brought home what was reputed to be the marble steps of Pontius Pilate's residence in Jerusalem. Jesus is said to have climbed these steps on the day he was sentenced to death.

You may think Steves might look down on cruises as overly cookie cutter but he's actually a fan. One of his favorite activities is to take in a sunrise or sunset in a place like Santorini, Greece, from the top deck of the ship.

Since cruise ship buffets and menus often ignore the local cuisine, Steves also recommends enjoying at least one meal in port, especially that city's iconic dish, like pizza in Naples, Italy.

With a good guidebook and public transportation, exploring the French Riviera is a snap. Frequent trains link the cities along the coast, and Nice – the Riviera's hub – will soon have a tramline connecting the city center right to its cruise port.

When in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, Steves likes to get out of the city on day trips, with many attractions within an hour's travel time. Among them: Drottningholm Palace, home to the Swedish royal family.

The Lutheran cathedral in Uppsala is one of Scandinavia's largest and has long been the seat of the Church of Sweden.

Uppsala Cathedral gazes right across a square at the Gustavianum museum, housing a collection of Viking artifacts, a cabinet of miniature curiosities, the first thermometer Anders Celsius made according to his own scale.

Ferries serve over a hundred of the islands that comprise the Stockholm archipelago, often starting with Vaxholm, the gateway.

The Island of Grinda is a car-free and largely forested nature preserve that's laced with walking paths, ringed by beaches, and dotted with granite slabs smoothed by glaciers.

Sigtuna, Sweden's oldest town, is also dotted with a dozen rune stones. These memorial stones are carved with messages in an Iron Age language. Most have a cross, indicating that they are from the early Christian era (11th century).

When Steves visits Dublin, he likes to walk along O'Connell Street, which connects him to Irish history. He begins on O'Connell Bridge over the River Liffey, which has long divided the Irish capital's wealthy south side from the working-class north side.

The median of Dublin's O'Connell Street is filled with history, including statues to those who helped bring about home rule.

A statue of Irish labor leader James Larkin stands outside Dublin's General Post Office, where are still pockmarked with bullet holes from the Easter Rising of 1916.

This Dublin statue honors Charles Stewart Parnell, beloved for his tireless work for land reform and Irish home rule

In May 2011, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, lays a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, a cathartic moment for both the English and Irish.

Steves finds the mediterranean island of Malta to be a citadel of the many cultures that fought over it through the years. Its massive harbor walls, lined with cannons, held off 40,000 Ottoman soldiers during the 1565 siege of Malta.

According to tradition, the colors of these Maltese fishing boats represent a fisherman's home village. (photo:

Malta also appeals to filmmakers. Colosseum scenes from the 2004 Russell Crowe movie "Gladiator" were filmed there.

During the first season of "Game of Thrones," Malta stood in for King's Landing.  Cersei Lannister delivered her "you win or you die" speech here at Church of St. Dominic and Dominican monastery in Rabat

To trace the path of Western intellectualism, Steves recommends visiting the continent's univerisities, like Trinity College Dublin. Its library houses the Book of Kells. The illuminated manuscript is a 1,200-year-old version of the four gospels, elaborately inked and meticulously illustrated by faithful monks, who went to great lengths in creating the 680-page book.

King's College Chapel at Cambridge University, located just outside of London, boasts the most complete collection of original 16th-century Renaissance stained glass in existence.

Italy's University of Padua is famous for its Anatomical Theatre, where students would to watch professors dissect human cadavers – mostly bodies of criminals from another town – at a time when the Catholic Church forbade autopsies.

One of Steves' recent discoveries: The Orkney Islands. Located a ferry ride away from the Scottish highlands, they offer glimpses of Celtic ruins, Norse heritage and historical sites from both World Wars.

At Stanway House in England's Cotswolds district, you can visit the grand home of the Earl of Wemyss.

Countess Alwine Federico toasts tour group members in her home, Palazzo Conte Federico — one of the oldest dwellings in Palermo, Sicily.

The Douro Valley's hillsides in Portugal are lined with stepped terraces built over the centuries and more modern large, smooth terraces, with vines planted in vertical rows.

At "quintas" throughout the valley, visitors can taste the variety of ports and table wines produced in the Douro.

Kutná Hora's Gothic cathedral was funded by Prague's once-lucrative silver-mining and -minting industry.

The Sedlec Bone Church includes the bones of 40,000 victims of wars and plague.

Visitors enjoy a scenic ride to a Lake Bled island on a traditional pletna boat in Slovenia.

A mannequin dangles on the church in Ste-Mère Eglise, France, commemorating the paratrooper who did the same in 1944. American paratrooper, John Steele, dangled from the town's church steeple for two hours. Though many paratroopers were killed in the first hours, the Americans eventually overcame their poor start and managed to take the town.

At Basque-style tapas bars, pintxos are already laid out, so you can simply point to or grab what you want in Spain.

Námafjall, along the Ring Road that circles Iceland, is one of the island's most accessible and impressive geothermal areas.

The old town in Bratislava, Slovakia, has come a long way since it was nearly a ghost town in the Communist era.

With their Greco-Roman themes and incomparable beauty, the gardens at Versailles were built to illustrate the immense power of the king.

About 15 miles from St. Petersburg in the town of Pushkin, Russia, the sprawling Catherine Palace is one of the best places to experience Romanov opulence.

At his villa in Tivoli, Italy, Emperor Hadrian recreated architectural styles and statuary from across his vast empire.

The Gellért thermal baths in Budapest offer a huge, deliriously enjoyable wave pool that'll toss you around like a surfer.

In its fairy-tale alpine setting, Neuschwanstein Castle is the most popular tourist destination in southern Bavaria.

Made of pink marble and decorated with Gothic spires, Milan's cathedral is one of the largest in Europe.

Spain's sunny port town of Cadaqués is an idyllic alternative to the glitzy Mediterranean resorts nearby.

Columns with intricately carved capitals and Moorish-influenced mosaics surround the cloister of Monreale Cathedral in Sicily, Italy.

Try some traditional cuisine in one of the "bouchons" — simple, cozy bistros filled with character — in Lyon, France.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, Scotland, houses everything from Mackintosh's art nouveau designs to stuffed elephants to medieval armor.

The Chapel of Bones at the Church of St. Francis in Évora, Portugal, contains thousands of skulls and bones unearthed from various churchyards.

Handmade lace in Belgium can be pricey, but it's a characteristic, packable souvenir.

Frankfurt's "new" Old Town, called the DomRömer Quarter, is a reconstruction of the half-timbered historic district destroyed during World War II.

In the neighborhood around Florence's great cathedral, it's easy to time-travel back to the Renaissance period.

Book reserved-time tickets online as far ahead as possible for Granada's Alhambra to ensure that you'll see its best part: the exquisite Palacios Nazaríes.

As you drive around the Trotternish Peninsula on Scotland's Isle of Skye, you may encounter more sheep than people.

After several years of being covered in scaffolding, the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau in France has returned to its romantic glory.

Cruising might not be for everyone, but it's an economic, efficient and popular of mode of travel in Europe and beyond.

A footpath is all that connects Italy's Civita di Bagnoregio to the "mainland."

The town of Varenna on Lake Como is the perfect place to savor a lakeside meal or aperitivo.

Sampling one of Germany's hundreds of sausage varieties from a street vendor is a classic German experience.

Wandering the ruins of Hadrian's Wall is a highlight of any visit to northern England.

Monks at Sénanque Abbey in Provence divide their day between prayer and work, which includes tending their perfect rows of lavender.

Do your research on the big aggregator sites, but then book directly with a family-run hotel for a glimpse into the local culture.

Iceland's thermal features are fascinating — but beware that testing the waters can result in severe burns.

Tiny Zahara is a characteristically whitewashed Andalusian town with an evocative Moorish castle.

The thatched roof of Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where Shakespeare's wife grew up, seems to drip over the 500-year-old building.

Though expensive, riding a gondola at night in Venice is one of the great experiences in Europe.

The picture-perfect village of Oia in Santorini, resting a thousand feet high above a volcanic crater, is a dream come true for photographers and sunset watchers.

A trip to Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, is one of Europe's richest experiences.

Ireland's legendary green countryside is the backdrop for the coastal town of Kinsale, a winner in the annual "Tidy Towns" contest.

Get your ticket to cross Northern Ireland's Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge first thing in the morning, before the cruise groups — and the wind — take over.

Visitors to Switzerland's gorgeous Berner Oberland can take in spectacular peak views from the Thrill Walk on the Schilthorn cliffside.

The Rhine River is best experienced from the deck of a relaxing riverboat, surrounded by the wonders of this romantic and historic gorge.

Taking a train like Switzerland's Bernina Express keeps you close to Europe's charms.

Going up the Eiffel Tower is one of the great travel thrills in Europe.

European department stores (such as Galeries Lafayette in Paris) can be glamorous platforms for top fashion and people-watching.

Scotland's sparsely populated Isle of Skye is easiest to explore with a set of wheels that allows you to enjoy the scenery at your own pace.

France's Chartres Cathedral boasts the world's largest surviving collection of medieval stained glass, filled with stories and symbolism.

Balance out visits to hectic big cities by also spending time in tranquil villages like Beilstein, in Germany's Mosel Valley.

The burgeoning HafenCity district and its spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert hall are revitalizing Hamburg's riverfront.

Florence's Duomo Museum, which reopened in 2016 after an extensive renovation, offers one of Italy's great artistic experiences.

Little tuk-tuks are a fun way to sightsee around Lisbon.

London's many attractions — such as its famous Harrods department store — make it a great winter destination for sightseeing and shopping.

Carcassonne, in the south of France, is the perfect medieval fortress-city.

Attending a Gaelic football match at Dublin's Croke Park is a great way to meet new Irish friends — as long as you root for the same side.

The little village of Gimmelwald, high in the Swiss Alps, is one of my all-time favorite European destinations.

Experiential sightseeing, such as this food tour of Rome's Testaccio neighborhood, is time and money well spent.

The ultimate Riviera port town: Vernazza.

Europe’s most scenic train rides are Switzerland’s top three: the Golden Pass, Bernina Express (shown here) and Glacier Express.

The best Gothic interior is found in Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle church.

Café-sitting, coffee-sipping and people-watching are some of the best ways to slow down and enjoy life like Europeans do.

Edinburgh is one of the most interesting cities in Britain.

A European picnic is a fine way to enjoy a cheap — and local — meal.

If you want a Swiss city, see Bern (shown here) or Luzern instead of Geneva.

Sognefjord is Norway’s most spectacular fjord.

Europe’s most underrated sight is Rome’s ancient seaport, Ostia Antica.

After Prague, Kraków (shown here) and Budapest are Eastern Europe’s best cities.

Grocery stores in St. Petersburg brim with colorful drinks, pickled goodies, fresh produce and friendly locals.

The ultimate hike in England’s Lake District: Catbells above Keswick.

Hadrian’s Wall will give history buffs goose bumps.

The most pleasing French château is Vaux-le-Vicomte, near Paris.

The ultimate medieval walled town in Germany: Rothenburg.

Splurging on a gondola ride in Venice buys you a memory for a lifetime.

Head to a historic British pub to make friends with a bartender and get a glimpse — and a taste — of traditional English culture.

There's magic afoot when you sightsee at night in Rome, as this young girl discovers near the Spanish Steps.

Memorable seaside views, whitewashed homes scrambling up the hillside, well-worn harborside cafés perfect for lingering — and no cars — all combine to make Hydra my ideal Greek isle.

Standing at a bar with a sampler of tapas and chalkboard specials on the wall is a quintessential Spain experience.

The views from the Rock of Gibraltar take in two continents, one ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

For the best food deals in Frankfurt, line up with locals at Kleinmarkthalle, a delightful old-school market.

Warsaw's magnificent Lazienki Park, filled with Neoclassical palaces, statuary and water features, is a great place to see Poles at play.

Ireland's romantic Dingle Peninsula is gloriously green.

Sitting on a stone at the Castlerigg circle, in England's Lake District, inspires contemplation.