Europe Travelers Recommend

You can save time and take the hassle out of your visit by booking Skip the Line tickets and heading straight inside. Skip the Line tours and tickets are available for many of Rome’s most popular sights and experiences, like Viator’s exclusive VIP Vatican tour, as well as Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Fast-track entry can also be enjoyed at some of Rome's other famous attractions with Skip the Line: Borghese Gallery and Gardens and Skip the Line: Colosseum and Ancient Rome, meaning you’ll have plenty of time left for quintessential Rome experiences like throwing coins into the famous Trevi Fountain or eating gelato on the Spanish steps. You won’t even have to wait for a table for dinner by booking a Skip the Line Rome Hard Rock Café reservation and you’ll be whisked to your table upon arrival.

Just because its name evokes images of snowshoeing and glacier hiking, doesn’t mean Iceland is only a winter destination; in fact, the summer months are one of the most popular times to explore with extended sunlight hours providing the opportunity to continue tours late into the evening. Here are a few suggestions for what to do in Iceland in summer.

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

The River Seine is the lifeblood of Paris. Immerse yourself in romance, cruising under iconic bridges to see the architectural wonders and discover the daily life of this beautiful city from the water. The piece-de-resistance of any trip to the Seine appears before you: the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Magnificent in its dark gothic splendor of towers and gargoyles, it’s even more awe-inspiring from river-level – imagine waking up to that sight each day! Leaving Notre Dame and its perch on the Ile de la Cité behind, turn back to see the best view looking downstream at the tip of the island and beautiful flying buttresses at this curved end of the cathedral.

Paris is a dream destination for travelers around the world, and that popularity comes with some major crowds. Plan ahead to secure your spot at the very best sites—see below for our top picks and experiences you can't miss in the City of Light.

There is so much to do in the Athens area, from island hopping in the Aegean and consulting with oracles at Delphi to exploring ancient Corinth or wine tasting in Nemea. Most Greek island-hopping adventures start off from Piraeus harbor in Athens, and today with the advent of high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils as well as the stately inter-island ferries, more and more islands can be enjoyed for a day. It’s easy to visit Hydra, Aegina, and Poros for the day, even on the ferry, and be back in Athens for a late supper, but the hydrofoils also enable travel to Spetses in two hours to experience its laid-back island charm, Venetian mansions, and solitary beaches. If that sounds like too much effort, take a three-hour round trip to the island of Fleves by yacht to snorkel in the pristine waters of the Saronic Gulf.

With hundreds of tourists taking to the route each day, Iceland’s Golden Circle route isn’t the place to get off-the-beaten-track, but there’s a reason why is so popular. The 300 km tourist road loops around some of south Iceland’s most spectacular scenery, including the Thingvellir National Park and the famous Geysir and Strokkur geysers. If you’ve only got one day to spend in Reykjavik, touring the Golden circle should check a few must-sees off your to-do list, but even with more time to explore, there’s nowhere in Iceland where you can see so much topographical variety on one short trip. The easiest way to explore the route is to take a Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik, but it’s also possible to hire a car and drive yourself, although weather conditions can make the roads difficult to navigate. Starting out from the capital, tours head east and the first stop is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Thingvellir National Park, once home to Iceland’s first parliament.

End your busy day in Paris with a slow and sensuous cruise down the River Seine. Cruise down the Seine River on a dinner cruise which combines Paris sightseeing, French cuisine and evening entertainment in one unforgettable package. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the riverbanks that line Paris’ River Seine are home to countless attractions and iconic Paris sites. Pass Notre Dame Cathedral, the Latin Quarter and the Parisian Statue of Liberty, as well as world-famous museums such as Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre. Enjoy the views all around from the glass roof and large panoramic windows as the boat cruises from the Eiffel Tower to La Bibliothèque Nationale and back.