We visited 59 places in Europe in 2025 and ranked them honestly. This guide shows which destinations are worth your time and money. You will see what impressed us and what didn’t stand out as much. We kept it practical so you can plan better trips. Start with the lowest and work your way to the best. You might discover your next favourite destination.
Before we start, just a quick note…
Just because some places are lower on this list doesn’t mean we didn’t like them. We genuinely enjoyed all the places we visited last year. But when you rank trips, something has to end up at the bottom. These are simply our personal favourites, not a judgment on the places themselves.
59. Trento
Trento is a city in northern Italy, in the Trentino region.
It has some beautiful spots, like the Fontana del Nettuno and the Trento Cathedral, especially inside. But it wasn’t one of our favourite stops in the Trentino region, which is why it’s our least favourite.
58. Bolzano
Bolzano is a city in northern Italy, in the South Tyrol region.
Again, Bolzano had some beautiful elements, but the town itself was just okay for us. We really enjoyed taking the cable car up for the views, but as soon as we started going up, the weather changed and it started raining. We couldn’t stay at the top for long and had to come down quickly.
57. Sillans-la-Cascade
Sillans-la-Cascade is in southern France, in the Var department of Provence.
While visiting Sillans, we walked the short trail to the waterfall, Sillans la Cascade. The trail is really well done, with wooden fences and proper steps. The waterfall itself is beautiful, and the water colour is stunning. It’s not higher on the list because, well, it’s just a waterfall. If you’re in the area, definitely stop by, but it’s not worth a special detour.
56. Dinard
Dinard is in western France, in the Brittany region.
This place was a bit of a letdown, mostly because of the weather. The houses are really spectacular, and on a sunny day we probably would have enjoyed it more. However, it was cold, windy, and rainy, so we decided to move on to the next place.
55. Limeuil
Limeuil is in southwest France, in the Dordogne department.
It’s a tiny village, but don’t get us wrong, it’s stunning, and it was once voted one of the most charming villages in France. We really enjoyed it, but it’s lower on the list because we visited so many other places that wowed us even more. If you go, definitely check out the Mairie (town hall) and have a drink by the river overlooking the bridge.
54. Aups
Aups is in southern France, in the Var department of Provence.
It was one of the towns we visited during our Provence trip in September. We went to see the farmers’ market and brocante, which is apparently the biggest in this part of Provence. The market was great and the town was cute, but it wasn’t our favourite stop on the trip.
53. Vains
Vains is in Normandy, in northern France, near Mont-Saint-Michel.
We didn’t really see the town of Vains, we drove past it, but it’s on the list because we stopped at a creperie on the side of the road here and had some delicious crepes and galettes, typical in Normandy and Brittany. Plus the service was excellent and the restaurant was charming.
52. Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is in northern France, in the Normandy region.
This place is lower on the list because it wasn’t super beautiful per se. However the reason why it’s not all the way at the bottom is because the history is extremely fascinating and standing where D-day happened is an experience everyone should live at least once, especially if you are interested in learning about WW2 history.
51. Granville
Granville is in Normandy, in northern France.
Even though it’s low on our list, it’s a cute town and worth a visit. It’s known for seafood, we had some delicious moules frites here (check out our Normandy post!). There’s also a beautiful lighthouse, Phare du Cap Lihou, which is perfect for watching the sunset over the water.
50. Unterammergau
Unterammergau is in southern Germany, in Bavaria.
We had a delicious traditional Bavarian meal here, and the waiters wore traditional German clothes while we enjoyed the snowy town view. It was beautiful, but we didn’t stay long enough to really get the feel of the town, and while we liked it, it wasn’t our favourite stop on our Bavarian road trip.
49. Füssen
Füssen is in southern Germany, in Bavaria, near the Austrian border.
We visited in the winter and thought it was beautiful, especially the colourful houses and the church. But we’ve seen photos from spring and summer, and it looks amazing then, so we’ll probably have to come back when the weather is better.
48. Asturias
Asturias is a region in northern Spain, along the Atlantic coast.
We went in July to escape the unbearable Madrid summer heat. Asturias has a beautiful coast with lots of greenery and small towns with white houses. We really enjoyed it and would recommend visiting. We stopped in cute towns like Cudillero, Lastres, Covadonga, Cangas de Onís, Puerta de Vega, Llanes, and Ribadesella, and loved having seafood at the restaurants by the water. Especially the views from the Mirador de San Roque in Lastres.
47. Pisa
Pisa is a city in central Italy, in the Tuscany region.
This was one of the stops on our Mediterranean MSC cruise. Obviously, the highlight is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We were mostly excited to take the classic photo holding up the tower. We did it and could finally tick it off our bucket list.
46. Bergerac
Bergerac is in southwest France, in the Dordogne department.
We went here to see the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac and didn’t expect much from the town itself, but we were pleasantly surprised. The half-timbered houses are beautiful, and one of the highlights was just sitting on a bench and looking out over the Dordogne River.
45. Cotignac
Cotignac is a small town in southern France, in the Var department of Provence.
It’s one of the prettiest towns we visited, with charming streets, colourful shutters, and little shops. A great thing to do is wander around and then stop for a drink in Cours Gambetta, the main square full of cafés and restaurants. We had drinks there and a toasted brioche bun filled with lavender ice cream.
44. Rennes
Rennes is a major city in western France, and the capital of Brittany.
We had been here before but decided to come back during our Brittany trip. It’s known for its mix of medieval half-timbered houses and modern buildings, and there are lots of cafés, parks, and museums. The first time we visited, we had an amazing tartine, which is basically an open-faced sandwich, usually on rustic bread.
43. Brussels
Brussels is the capital city of Belgium, in the Brussels-Capital Region.
We have been to Brussels twice and there is a reason for that. The first time we went it was Christmas which of course gave it a magical vibe. In 2025 we went in the winter but not during xmas, so it wasn’t the same. Although we love other cities in Belgium more, Brussels has beautiful architecture, especially the golden details on the buildings in the Grand Place. We go into more details about our trip to Brussels in this video here.
42. Oberammergau
Oberammergau is in southern Germany, in Bavaria.
This was one of the last villages we visited on day 5 our Bavarian road trip during Christmas and wished we got there earlier to fully enjoy the town because it was so beautiful, possibly one of our favourites just by what we could see from the car. The buildings were so beautiful. The streets were full of snow. Unfortunately we didn’t walk around because it was snowing and it was freezing.
41. Haarlem
Haarlem is in the Netherlands, in North Holland.
We’ve been here before. The first time in summer, and this time in winter. Summer has a great vibe with full terraces, people out on bikes, and lots of energy. Winter is special too, with a cozy, moody feel and mist over the canals. Definitely take a walk down to the main river, it’s beautiful with all the boats and lights.
40. Périgueux
Périgueux is in southwest France, capital of the Dordogne department.
It is easy to explore, with lots of small streets and squares. The main highlight is the Saint-Front Cathedral, a 12th-century church with five domes. The best view is from the Pont des Barris bridge, and the inside is just as impressive, with beautiful stained glass. One thing that really stood out to us is how clean and well-kept the city feels. You can tell people take pride in it.
Read all about our Dordogne road trip and everything we did (and ate) in Périgueux.
39. Malcesine
Malcesine is in northern Italy, on the eastern side of Lake Garda in the Veneto region.
This village is lower on the list not because it isn’t beautiful. It has lovely spots, like having a drink in the main port while watching the boats come and go. But some of the other towns we’ll mention later felt more beautiful overall.
38. Fougères
Fougères is in Brittany, in western France.
We visited in mid-April, and the highlight was exploring the public gardens by the cathedral. They’re full of flower beds, ponds, and a gazebo, and you get a great view over the village and the fortress, Château de Fougères.
37. Gouda
Gouda is in the Netherlands, in South Holland.
We love Gouda…and not just the cheese, although that’s great too. We’ve been here before in both summer and winter. It’s beautiful in the summer, and you can have a drink in the main square with a view of the town hall. But we actually prefer the winter vibe, it feels much cozier.
36. Avranches
Avranches is in Normandy, in northern France.
We visited in April, and it’s definitely worth adding to your Normandy itinerary. The highlights were the cathedral, the lookout at the public garden with a view of Mont Saint Michel in the distance, and having delicious pastries at Éclat des Fèves, like the caramel flan and the salted caramel éclair.
35. Delft
Delft is in the Netherlands, in the South Holland province.
We visited during Easter, and the highlights for us were going back to the Royal Delft Factory to see the hand-painted ceramics and buying an ornament. The thing is, we had to return because we dropped the one we got last time. We also love exploring the old town on foot.
34. Beynac-et-Cazenac
Beynac-et-Cazenac is in southwest France, in the Dordogne department.
It’s a beautiful old village on a hill, and we visited at the end of June. We loved walking through the streets and going up to see the castle. You can walk uphill, but we had a car, so we drove instead. The castle is impressive, but even more impressive are the views over the valley. Another highlight is walking by the river.
33. Honfleur
Honfleur is in northern France, in the Normandy region.
This is a beautiful town, and the main highlight is the Vieux Bassin port, surrounded by colourful buildings, restaurants, and cafés. We had delicious galettes at Je Crêpe d’Envie, a cute little restaurant on one of the side streets.
32. Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a major city in southwest France, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
This is one of our favourite cities in France and a regular stop on our road trips from Spain. The food scene is great, the evenings are lively, and the city has a nice vibe. It’s also a good alternative to Paris if you want a similar feel but something a bit different. There’s a river, the Garonne, and beautiful Haussmann-style buildings. We share our favourite places to eat in our Top 10 things to do in Bordeaux post.
31. Rome
Rome is the capital city of Italy, in the Lazio region.
It was another stop on our MSC cruise at the end of May. We arrived at Civitavecchia and took a tourist bus into the city. Our highlights were having a drink on the Capitoline Museums rooftop with views of the ruins, and eating pizza while sipping a Hugo Spritz in one of the side streets. Just a heads-up, even at the end of May, it can get very hot in Italy, up to 31°C.
30. Mittenwald
Mittenwald is in southern Germany, in Bavaria, near the Austrian border.
We have fond memories of Mittenwald because we spent Christmas morning here. We booked a restaurant in advance, and on Christmas morning we walked through the snow to the town centre, about 10 minutes from our hotel, and enjoyed our Christmas meal there.
29. Riva del Garda
Riva del Garda is in northern Italy, in the Trentino region at the top of Lake Garda.
It was the starting point for our tour boat on the lake, and later in the evening we really enjoyed some Italian food at a restaurant overlooking the water and the sunset, surrounded by mountains.
28. Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a major city in western Austria, in the Tyrol region.
We visited at Christmas and really loved Storybook Alley, with all the characters around the buildings, the famous Golden Roof, and the Christmas market. The snowy mountain views were beautiful while we enjoyed Kaiserschmarrn, caramelised shredded pancakes with powdered sugar and either apple sauce or berry compote.
27. Seefeld
Seefeld is in western Austria, in the Tyrol region.
When we arrived in Seefeld, everything was covered in snow and it looked magical. We highly recommend visiting in winter like we did. The highlights were drinking warm eggnog by the fire at the Christmas market in the main square by the church and watching the ice rink with the Seekirche in the background.
26. Dinan
Dinan is in Brittany as well, in western France.
This place is full of medieval charm, with beautiful half-timbered and stone houses throughout the old town. The Basilique Saint-Sauveur is a must. It looks simple from the outside, but the inside is really impressive. The best view is from Saint Catherine Tower, overlooking the bridge, port, and river. Of course, we also stopped for pastries at Yann de Bretagne. The lemon and apple tarts were our favourites, and we couldn’t leave without a jar of salted caramel. Our family loves salted caramel!
25. Vitré
Vitré is also in Brittany, in western France.
We visited this town during our Normandy/Brittany road trip in April. It felt like stepping into a fairytale. The half-timbered and classic grey stone houses with colourful storefronts were beautiful, and our favourite was the castle (Château de Vitré) with bluebells growing inside the moat. It was a cloudy day, but somehow that added to the vibe.
24. Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is in western France, in the Brittany region.
This was one of the places we were most excited to visit, and we loved it. It was a cloudy day, which added to the medieval vibe, though mom would have preferred sunshine. We stopped at Atelier de Crêpes for tasty galettes and a Kir Breton (cider with blackcurrant liqueur), then wandered the streets inside the walled old town. Highlights were Saint-Vincent Cathedral, a kouign-amann from a local bakery, and walking the full loop along the city walls with views over the beach and port.
23. Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary, in central Hungary.
We went in October, and our favourites were the night river cruise past the Hungarian Parliament all lit up, and trying chimney cakes at Pichler. They make them fresh in front of you, rolling the dough around a stick that slowly turns while baking. You can get lots of toppings, but our favourite was the plain one with vanilla sugar. Delicious!
Learn more about our 3-day trip to Budapest!
22. Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is in southern Germany, in the Bavarian Alps.
The town itself wasn’t our favourite since we saw so many during this trip, but the painted buildings (Lüftlmalerei) were gorgeous. We also stumbled upon a Christmas market by accident and loved it. We tried hot Aperol, warm cheese-filled German sausage rolls, knödels with brown butter sauce, and more. There was another alpine-style market nearby serving delicious hot chocolate.
We talk more about it in our Bavaria and Austrian Alps road trip post.
21. La Roque-Gageac
La Roque-Gageac is in southwest France, in the Dordogne department.
We went at the beginning of September. The highlight here, right by the river, is taking a guided boat tour. You learn about the river’s trading history and see the Fort de La Roque-Gageac, an old refuge built into the cliff, and the Château de la Malartrie.
20. Munich
Munich is a major city in southern Germany, in the Bavaria region.
During our Bavarian road trip in winter, we had to stop in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. The main square with the huge Christmas tree, the two town halls, and the Glockenspiel was beautiful in the light snow. Another highlight was going up St. Peter’s tower for a view of the city. To see our top 10 things to do in Munich, check out this post next!
19. Sirmione
Sirmione is in northern Italy, on the southern tip of Lake Garda in Lombardy.
We’ve been here before, but returned during our summer trip in northern Italy. We love walking along the water, crossing the small bridge with flower boxes while boats pass underneath, and heading into town by the Scaliger Castle, which is a must-see. Piazza Giosuè Carducci is especially lovely, and it’s a great spot to stop for a drink, like an Aperol Spritz, and enjoy the vibe.
18. Lille
Lille is a major city in Northern France, in the Hauts-de-France region.
We actually did a day trip to Lille from Brussels, and we explain how in this video. Lille is easy to explore on foot, and most people start at Grand Place, which is only about a 10-minute walk from the train station. Some highlights are the Palais des Beaux-Arts, worth seeing even from the outside, La Vieille Bourse with its inner courtyard, and the Opera House. All close to each other.
17. Krakow
Krakow is a major city in southern Poland, in the Lesser Poland region.
This was our first time visiting Poland, and we absolutely loved it. Going in winter, waking up to snow on our first morning, probably made it even more magical. We enjoyed walking through the snow in the parks and streets and having delicious Polish meals at cozy underground restaurants. Check out our Krakow post to see why the restaurants are underground and everything we ate.
16. Volendam
Volendam is also in North Holland in the Netherlands.
It’s a beautiful Dutch fishing village just north of Amsterdam. The highlights were walking along the waterfront and having a traditional Dutch meal at Smit-Bokkum, with views over the water. We visited in winter, so in the evening the mist over the waterfront made the lights and boats feel extra magical.
15. Alkmaar
Alkmaar is in the Netherlands, in the North Holland province.
We’ve been to the Netherlands a few times but had never visited Alkmaar. We stayed here at the end of January, and it quickly became one of our favourite towns. The highlight for us was trying the Alkmaarse Kaassoep, a creamy, rich cheese soup made with local Gouda.
14. Sarlat-la-Canéda
Sarlat-la-Canéda is in southwest France, in the Dordogne department.
The medieval architecture is the main reason to visit. Walking around feels like stepping back in time. It’s also a great place to try local food, especially duck dishes, which the region is famous for. We had some delicious duck confit at Brasserie La Lanterne. For more on what we saw and ate, check out our Dordogne post.
13. Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, in North Holland.
We love Amsterdam and have been here several times. Our favourite things to do are trying traditional Dutch food, like poffertjes, exploring the food scene, taking a canal cruise, and this year we visited the Rijksmuseum and loved it. We have a full video on our Amsterdam trip, plus another showing the exact route we’d take for a Netherlands road trip.
12. Florence
Florence is a major city in central Italy, in the Tuscany region.
This was one of the stops on our MSC cruise. We got off in Livorno and took a tour bus to Pisa and then Florence. We’ve been to Florence before, so it’s not higher on the list, but the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) is definitely the most impressive thing to see.
11. Rocamadour
Rocamadour is in southwest France, in the Lot department of the Occitanie region.
The town is built right into a cliff, with a religious complex carved into the rock, including stone staircases, chapels, and a basilica. The views from the top are amazing, and the history is fascinating. If you’re in the Dordogne area, it’s definitely worth the detour.
10. Portofino
Portofino is in northern Italy, in the Liguria region on the Italian Riviera.
We also visited Portofino on our MSC cruise. We stopped in Genoa, took a bus to Santa Margherita, and then a boat to Portofino. It was our favourite stop on the cruise. The highlight was having lunch and cocktails while looking over the port.
9. Étretat
Étretat is in northern France, in the Normandy region.
This is one of our favourite spots in northern France. Go on a clear day so you can really see the cliffs and the colour of the sea. We visited in April and highly recommend doing the same. There are lots of great viewpoints, and we have a full Normandy post if you want more details.
8. Herzogstandbahn
Herzogstandbahn is in southern Germany, in Bavaria, in the Bavarian Alps.
We took the cable car to the top and definitely recommend it. The views over the mountains and lakes are amazing, and there’s a café at the top where you can just sit and enjoy it. We share prices and tips in our Bavaria and Austrian Alps post.
7. Lago di Carezza
Lago di Carezza or Karersee is in Northern Italy, in South Tyrol, in the Dolomites.
We visited during our Dolomites trip, and it was one of our absolute favourite places. The water is an incredible bright turquoise and completely clear. We were lucky to see it on a sunny day. If you go, try to plan for good weather, otherwise you won’t get the same view.
6. Limone sul Garda
Limone sul Garda is in northern Italy, on the western side of Lake Garda in Lombardy region.
This was one of our favourite spots on Lake Garda, and it really lives up to its name, with lemon details everywhere and shops selling all kinds of lemon products. The lake views are beautiful, and the town is full of little ports and bougainvillea. We also had some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had. A lemon sorbet served inside a frozen lemon. It sounds touristy, but it was honestly so good. We go into more detail about Lake Garda in our Lake Garda post.
5. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is also in southern France, in Provence, a commune in the Alps-de-Haute-Provence department.
It’s one of the most popular villages in Provence, and for us, it really lived up to the hype. We loved the star hanging between the cliffs, the colourful shutters, and how the village is built right into the rock. The waterfall running through the town pulls it all together, and it’s absolutely worth stopping by if you’re in the area.
4. Tourtour
Tourtour is a small village in southern France, in the Var department of Provence.
We stayed here during our Provence trip in September and were told it would be beautiful, but it still exceeded our expectations. Our guesthouse was right in the centre, so we could walk everywhere. To the farmers’ markets, flea markets, and the main square. The evenings in the square were especially nice, and the view from the church at the top of the hill, looking out over the valley, is incredible.
3. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is in southern Germany, in the Bavarian Alps.
We didn’t go inside, but even seeing it from the outside was enough to rank it this high. We visited in winter, during the Christmas holidays, and the snow made it feel like a real winter wonderland. It’s one of the most beautiful castles we’ve ever seen. Next time, we’d definitely come earlier to make the most of the daylight and take the horse-drawn carriage to the top, which costs 8€.
2. Verdon Gorge
Verdon Gorge is in southern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
Renting a small boat and driving it ourselves through the gorge was one of the highlights of our Provence trip. The water is a bright turquoise, the cliffs on both sides are really impressive, and the whole experience feels very peaceful. If you’re visiting Provence, this is something we really recommend. Read our Provence road trip post to see the one thing we wish we’d done differently at Verdon Gorge.
1. The Dolomites mountain ranges and Alpine towns
The Dolomites mountain ranges are in northern Italy, in the South Tyrol and Trentino-Alto Adige region.
We visited towards the end of summer, in mid-September, which is a great time to go. The drive was beautiful, with lots of greenery, mountain peaks, and cable cars passing right by. We stopped in several small villages with flower pots on almost every balcony, and one of our favourites was Ortisei.
Read all about our Dolomites road trip here.
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