Recently updated on August 15th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
From logic-defying ancient monuments to palatial architectural wonders, Europe certainly isn’t short of a landmark or two.
These destinations have topped bucket lists for decades, with many eager to explore the continent. Despite the large number of landmarks, they span different architectural styles and locations, making each one unique in its own right.
Some will have you scratching your head, wondering how it’s possible, while others will leave you awe-inspired at the intricacies of the beautiful details. With this in mind, we’re looking at the top European landmarks that you should tick off your must-visit list.
1) Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower which has become known for its infamous lean.
Located in the city of Pisa in Tuscany, the landmark began tilting whilst it was being built. At 56m in height, it took almost 200 years to build and the work began in 1173.
To compensate for its lean, engineers working on the tower built upper floors with one side shorter than the other. It’s believed that it started to be on a slant due to shallow foundations and unstable subsoil. Over the years, there have been attempts made to fix the issue, but the tower still remains lopsided.
P.S. If you’re looking to tick off this European landmark, visit Florence too. This is the capital city of the region of Tuscany and it can be reached via a short train journey from Pisa.
See it on: Italian Holiday
2) Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
The Neuschwanstein Castle, in the village of Schwangau in the south of the country, opened to the public in 1886. This occurred seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II.
Now, this palace is a European landmark, with 1.4 million people flocking to visit ‘the castle of the fairy-tale king.’ The complex encompasses a staircase tower, a knight’s house, a square tower, an upper courtyard, a lower courtyard, and more within its grounds.
3) Acropolis of Athens, Greece
For the history buffs amongst us, the Acropolis of Athens should be on your travel bucket list as it’s the most complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing today.
This Greek landmark includes several ancient structures and it draws in crowds of around seven million visitors annually.
While the structures all appear to be white marble, the Acropolis was once brightly colored as the temples, like the Parthenon, included bold blues, reds, and yellows.
FYI: Many visitors miss the cave on the northern slope of the Acropolis, which is known as the Cave of Zeus. This was a sanctuary used for offerings to Zeus and Pan.
See it on: Best of Greece
4) The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites are a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps which includes 18 peaks that rise to above 3,000 metres.
Many describe the area as having the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world. In the Winter months, you can see the mountains laden with snow. In the Spring, the snow melts and nature reawakens, and it’s when the flowers begin to blossom.
5) Colosseum, Italy
The Colosseum is an incredible European landmark to visit as it transports you back in time, as you’re able to stand inside the large ancient Roman amphitheatre that once hosted gladiatorial combats.
It was built in the 1st century CE and was used to present a number of spectacles and events until the end of the ancient period. Despite its age, the building has retained much of its glory, and it welcomes a huge number of visitors annually.
For those looking for greater access within the grounds, tickets for an underground and arena guided tour are available
See it on: Italy Bellisimo
6) Reichstag, Germany
The historic Neo-Renaissance building known as the Reichstag sits in the capital of Germany, in Berlin. It was constructed between 1884 and ‘94 and it housed the legislature of the German Empire.
The roof terrace and dome of the Reichstag building can be visited by members of the public, with the landmark offering views over the parliamentary and government district.
See it on: Highlights of Germany
7) Pompeii, Italy
In the southern Italian region of Campania, you will find Pompeii, which was once a thriving Roman city.
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., Pompeii was buried under ash and pumice. Now, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site which offers a snapshot of what Roman life was like.
It was in the mid-18th century when excavations in the area began. Archaeologists aimed to unearth the city underneath the damage from the eruption.
8) Atomium, Belgium
Built for the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958, the Atomium was designed to be the flagship building with the slogan ‘a world for a better life for mankind.’
The uniqueness of the building, along with its symbolic nature, led to it being restored at the dawn of the 2000s. It later reopened in 2006 and it’s now one of the most popular attractions in the city of Brussels.
See it on: Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg
9) The Louvre, France
The Louvre Museum is located conveniently in the center of Paris, with this museum being home to some of the most iconic artworks.
It’s here where you’ll find what is arguably the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.
Amongst many other pieces of work, The Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese is the largest in the building. It’s over six meters high and almost 10 meters wide, with a vast banquet depicted. No one visit to The Louvre is ever the same either, as it regularly runs new exhibitions throughout the museum.
See it on: Paris Explorer
10) Fisherman’s Bastion, Hungary
This fortress, located in Budapest, is one of the best-known historical monuments in the area. Its history dates back to 1895, when the building work began.
The Fisherman’s Bastion was built as part of a series of developments that aimed to celebrate the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian state.
The building has stone benches, arches and windows and it offers a beautiful panoramic view terrace which serves as the perfect lookout point.
See it on: Prague, Vienna and Budapest
FAQs: All about European landmarks
What is the most famous landmark in Europe?
It’s difficult to pinpoint what is exactly the most famous landmark in Europe, but the Eiffel Tower is often cited as being the top.
The actual statistics for how many people visit the Parisian landmark aren’t known, but the Hofburg Palace in Vienna (Austria) is recorded as attracting around 20 million visitors every year.
Other European landmarks have seen significant numbers too, like the Musée du Louvre which reported seeing 8.7 million visitors in 2024. The Château de Versailles, also in France, gets nearly 10 million visitors every year.
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Europe?
There are 609 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe, with this being a substantial portion from one area.
There are a total of 1248 UNESCO World Heritage sites, with many of these being known as European landmarks.
How old is Stonehenge?
The first monument at Stonehenge is believed to have been built about 5,000 years ago and the stone circle is thought to have been erected in the late Neolithic period of about 2500 BC.
Many burial mounds were built nearby in the early Bronze Age, according to the English Heritage organization.
It’s thought that the features such as the Heel Stone and the low mound known as the North Barrow were amongst the early components of Stonehenge, but the earliest known major event dates back to about 3000 BC with the construction of a circular ditch with an inner and outer bank.
When will La Sagrada Familia be finished?
The La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, another major European landmark, will be complete in 2026, 144 years after initial construction.
The date coincides with the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí who was the architect behind the building.
While 2026 is the main completion date, the work on the staircase leading to the main entrance isn’t expected to be finished until 2034.
When was the Palace of Versailles built?
The actual construction of a château on the site, which is still preserved and laid the basis of the Palace, took place from 1631 to 1634. Between 1661 and 1715, the residence was transformed into a much more extravagant complex merging a French design with English gardens.
This came after Louis XIII went on a hunting trip to Versailles on 24 August 1607 and found a forest and meadows with lots of game. He returned a few times and in 1623 he decided to build a small hunting lodge where he could stay the night.