1Although it is the world's second smallest continent,
2Europe welcomes more than half of all the tourists worldwide.
3In fact, 7 of the 10 most visited countries in the world are European nations.
4It's easy to see why;
5a well-preserved cultural heritage, rich history,
6safety and efficient infrastructure makes visiting Europe a breeze.
7Here's a look at the best places to visit in Europe:
8...
9Number 25 - Vienna
10As the former seat of the Hapsburg Empire,
11Vienna is awash with impressive imperial buildings and palaces,
12which so comprehensively convey the wealth and power of its former monarchs.
13Now the capital of Austria, the city is a delight to get lost in.
14Nicknamed 'the City of Music', the names of its famous residents roll off the tongue,
15with Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert among those who once graced its streets.
16...
17Number 24 - Stonehenge
18You have to marvel at the determination of prehistoric man when you look at Stonehenge.
19Construction started about 3000 BC on what was originally burial grounds.
20Huge monoliths, weighing 25 tons, were dragged 150 miles to the site a few hundred years later.
21It's not known exactly how many humungous rocks were moved to a field near Amesbury
22but there are 13 standing today.
23It's also not known why Stonehenge was built,
24but many believe this great English landmark is associated with early astrology.
25...
26Number 23 - Matterhorn.
27Egypt may have its pyramids,
28but Italy and Switzerland have a nature-made pyramid of their own: the Matterhorn.
29At 14,692 feet high,
30this famous mountain is one of the highest in Europe.
31The mountain has four faces, each equally rugged.
32The legendary mountain has been popular with climbers since the first ascent in 1865;
33during the summer, 150 people a day try to climb it.
34Couch potatoes may be just as happy to stay below and gaze in awe at the summit playing hide and seek with the clouds.
35...
36Number 22 - Plitvice Lakes.
37The Plitvice Lakes are so pretty, officials turned them into a national park.
38Located in central Croatia,
39Plitvice Lakes consists of 16 lakes that attract more than a million visitors a year.
40The lakes are surrounded by lush forests and connected by waterfalls cascading down from one lake to another.
41The lakes are divided into two sections, lower and upper,
42because of the difference in elevation.
43The best way to see the lakes is walking;
44on the route you might even see some wildlife.
45...
46Number 21 - Budapest.
47Budapest was already an established city when the Hungarians took over in the 9th century.
48Today, Budapest is the country's capital and largest city.
49In between these two events, Budapest was ruled by the Mongols and Ottomans, among others.
50Considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe,
51Budapest is home to the Museum of Fine Arts with its collection of more than 100,000 works.
52Be sure to visit the centrally located Old Town
53with its many museums, churches, palaces and Parliament building.
54...
55Number 20 - Lisbon.
56The Portuguese capital of Lisbon lies on the Tagus River along the Atlantic coast.
57It is this location that encouraged explorers to sail far and wide around the world in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
58One of the things you'll want to see is Belem Tower,
59a 16th century fortress on the Tagus' north bank.
60If you're looking for good views of old Lisbon, head to Saint George Castle
61that was built on a hilltop by the Moors.
62...
63Number 19 - Gullfoss.
64You probably don't know too many people who've been to Iceland.
65But it may be worth a trip there to visit the spectacular Gullfoss waterfalls.
66Located in southern Iceland,
67Gullfoss is one of Iceland's top tourist attractions.
68At times it almost appears glacier-like, appropriate, perhaps, since it is fed by a glacier.
69The waterfalls begin just after the Olfusa River makes a perpendicular turn
70and then cascades down a three-step staircase into a canyon that is 115 feet deep.
71...
72Number 18 - Athens.
73Athens, a city that's been inhabited since the 5th century BC,
74gave the world the concept of democracy
75and is the birthplace of Western civilization.
76Many of the city's major landmarks can be found in the old city,
77particularly around the Acropolis.
78The list includes the temple of Zeus;
79the Theatre of Dionysus where Sophocles works were performed
80and the Parthenon, which sits atop the Acropolis.
81...
82Number 17 - Bay of Kotor.
83When you're hungry for breathtaking scenery,
84feast your eyes on Kotor Bay in southwestern Montenegro.
85This bay off the Adriatic is just downright picturesque:
86hemmed in by mountains, with quaint villages sandwiched between the cliffs and the gorgeous blue water.
87Several well-preserved medieval towns ring the bay.
88People make pilgrimages here, not only to take in the scenery
89but also to visit the many Orthodox and Christian churches spread among the villages.
90...
91Number 16 - Moscow.
92For nearly 900 years, Moscow has been the capital of Russia.
93As such, this old city has plenty to offer visitors.
94Let's start with the 15th century Red Square
95since many of the city's key attractions surround it.
96A top landmark is the Kremlin, a former fortress that houses museums and the president of the Russian federation.
97Lenin's Tomb sits in the middle of the square,
98while the iconic onion-domed St. Basil's Cathedral, now a museum, is on one side.
99...
100Number 15 - Venice.
101Venice is for romantics who love gliding through the Grand Canal with a gondolier singing Italian love songs.
102This is, after all, the city that sent Marco Polo off on his journey to China.
103Start your exploration of Venice at San Marco Square,
104the city's most famous square.
105Here you'll find the Doge's Palace, the seat of Venetian government,
106and St. Mark's Basilica, the main church in Venice with stunning views from the tower.
107Venice also is famous for its bridges along the canals.
108...
109Number 14 - Monte Carlo.
110If you're into glitz and glamour, look no further than Monte Carlo,
111the major city in the tiny principality of Monaco.
112Monaco has always been known for these qualities
113which reached new heights when its prince made Grace Kelly his princess.
114Sitting on the shores of the Mediterranean,
115Monte Carlo is known for fast car races and its elite casino.
116Take a walk along the harbor to see yachts that belong to the rich and famous.
117...
118Number 13 - Alhambra.
119The Alhambra is one of the great wonders of Spain.
120It's a gorgeous palace-fortress complex
121that can be found in Granada in southern Spain's Andalusia province.
122This imposing complex started out as a small fortress in the late 9th century,
123though it was built on the ruins of a former Roman fortress.
124Taken over by Christian rulers,
125it is the site where Columbus got the go-ahead to discover the New World.
126The blending of architectural styles over the centuries is stunning.
127You'll find great art and grand gardens throughout.
128...
129Number 12 - Florence.
130If it weren't for Florence, the Renaissance might not have happened.
131Florence is generally credited with bringing Europe out of the dark ages
132with great artists like Michelangelo.
133You can see their works at the Uffizi gallery,
134or the Academia that displays the original David.
135Eat a gelato while strolling the Ponte Vecchio that bridges the Arno River.
136Ogle the over-the-top riches of the Medici family at the Pitti Palace.
137Marvel at the early engineering that created the great Duomo.
138This is Florence at its best.
139...
140Number 11 - London.
141English history buffs will have a field day in London.
142This city on the Thames is chock full of palaces,
143from Buckingham Palace to Hampton Court Palace .
144More a prison than a palace, the Tower of London is home to the crowns jewels.
145And from Knightsbridge - don't forget to visit the magnificent food halls at Harrods -
146to Carnaby Street, the shopping is awesome.
147You can get around London quickly and efficiently by riding the famous Tube.
148...
149Number 10 - Neuschwanstein Castle.
150"Fairy tale castle" is a phrase that aptly describes Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps.
151This 19th century Romanesque Revival castles looks like it just stepped out of a fairy tale;
152some say Neuschwanstein provided the inspiration for the castle in Disney's Sleeping Beauty.
153The castle was built as a retreat for King Ludwig II of Bavaria,
154who viewed it as a romanticization of the Middle Ages.
155The castle was built of brick, then covered in rock,
156including the white limestone that is visible from afar.
157...
158Number 9 - Amsterdam.
159Amsterdam is a pleasant city marked by meandering canals lined with tall, narrow row houses.
160It is the city where Anne Frank kept her most famous diary,
161so visiting the house where she wrote is a must.
162This "Venice of the North" also is a city of great art,
163beginning with the Rijksmuseum, home to great European masterpieces;
164Rembrandt's house and the more modern van Gogh museum.
165Take a break from sightseeing to tour and sample Holland's beer at the Heineken Brewery.
166...
167Number 8 - Prague.
168Prague, with a long history of war and destruction,
169is considered one of the best places to visit in Europe.
170Despite devastation caused by World War II,
171Prague has a very nice Old Town that is worth more than a few hours of your time.
172Prague has many pedestrian zones, which make walking a delight,
173as you wander by Prague Castle, through the Jewish Quarter and over the Charles Bridge.
174Wenceslas Square, situated in the New Town,
175hums with a vibrant nightlife and entertainment air.
176...
177Number 7 - Istanbul.
178Istanbul may be on the outer fringes of Europe
179but well worth a visit when you're traveling abroad.
180Turkey's biggest city is a fascinating place,
181filled with rich history, colorful markets and mosques.
182Top attractions include the Bosporus that separates Europe and Asia;
183the ecumenical Hagia Sophia that's been a Greek Orthodox Christian basilica,
184then an imperial mosque and now a museum,
185and the 15th century Topkapi Palace, also a museum today.
186Get in a little shopping at the Grand Bazaar that's been in operation since 1461.
187
188Number 6 - Geirangerfjord.
189When the summer heat of Europe gets you down,
190head to Norway with its pretty cool scenery.
191Geirangerfjord is a 9.3-mile long fjord with crystal blue waters fed by picturesque cascading waterfalls.
192Take a sightseeing trip on a car ferry through the fjord, passing villages on the shores.
193Look out for the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls
194so named because legend says he's trying to court the sisters.
195Also look for Bridal Veil -
196when the light is right, it looks like a thin veil covering the rocks.
197...
198Number 5 - Barcelona.
199Founded by the Romans, Barcelona today is a bustling city on the Mediterranean Sea.
200As the capital of Catalonia, it is a powerhouse in the region.
201It is perhaps best known for the unusual buildings designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi.
202These landmark structures include La Sagrada Familia,
203a church that's been under construction since 1892.
204You could build your entire visit around his buildings,
205but then you'd miss out on other Barcelona delights,
206such as La Rambla, a popular pedestrian street in the central part of the city.
207...
208Number 4 - Dubrovnik.
209As European cities go, Dubrovnik isn't very big,
210but don't let its size deter you.
211This little jewel, with less than 43,000 people,
212is one of the most visited cities on the Mediterranean.
213Dubrovnik transports visitors back to a time when the fortified city was a major maritime power
214commanding the third-largest navy in the Mediterranean.
215As you wander the streets, you'll likely come across sculptures of St. Viaho,
216the city's patron saint whose life is celebrated every February.
217...
218Number 3 - Santorini.
219When it's time to sit back and relax,
220take yourself to to Santorini, an island in the Aegean.
221Top travel magazines consider this a prime destination;
222once there, you can't help but agree.
223The island has picture-postcard villages, an active volcano and stunning sunsets.
224Be sure to visit Fira, a village perched atop a cliff.
225You'll also want to sample wines,
226such as the dessert wine Vincanto
227as well as the produce that is made sweeter and tastier
228because of the volcanic ash soil it grows in.
229...
230Number 2 - Paris.
231Songs laud Paris in the springtime,
232but any time of year is a good time to visit this riveting city on the River Seine.
233It's a city loaded to the brim with history, culture, great food and high fashion.
234The iconic Eiffel Tower is one landmark you won't want to miss.
235The Louvre houses one of the greatest art collections in the world.
236Its great churches include Sacred Heart and Notre Dame.
237When it comes to opulence, there's Versailles with its famed Hall of Mirrors.
238...
239Number 1 - Rome.
240The ancient Romans established outposts as far away as Great Britain.
241They didn't ignore their home city, however, when it came to building great monuments.
242One must-see landmark is the Colosseum,
243an arena that could hold up to 80,000 people for gladiator contests.
244One of the biggest draws is a tiny country inside the city:
245The Vatican City, with its impressive St. Peter's Basilica with art provided by Michelangelo.
246Maybe you'll get a glimpse of the pope at his Wednesday audiences.
247...