World Heritage Sites in Europe

Rome’s mighty amphitheatre, where gladiators once fought before crowds of 50,000. Nearly two thousand years old, it remains the enduring symbol of the ancient city. Combine it with the neighbouring Forum and Palatine Hill.

The Acropolis of Athens, crowned by the marble Parthenon, is the supreme symbol of ancient Greece and the birthplace of democracy. It has presided over the city for 2,500 years. The views over Athens at sunset are unforgettable.

The Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, its streets, villas and frescoes preserved beneath the ash. Walking its silent lanes is an eerie journey into daily Roman life. Naples and the volcano loom nearby.

The exquisite Moorish palace-fortress crowning a hill above Granada, a masterpiece of Islamic Spain. Its courtyards, fountains and intricately carved halls are dazzling. Book well ahead, as daily visitor numbers are strictly limited.

The enigmatic prehistoric stone circle rising from England’s Salisbury Plain, raised some 5,000 years ago. Its purpose and construction still puzzle experts. The circle aligns dramatically with the solstice sunrises.

The most opulent royal palace in Europe, built by Louis XIV outside Paris as the seat of absolute monarchy. The Hall of Mirrors and vast formal gardens are staggering. It set the template for palaces across the continent.

A medieval abbey crowning a rocky tidal island off the coast of Normandy, ringed by some of Europe’s greatest tides. Its spire seems to float above the bay. Time your visit around the dramatic incoming tide.

The fairytale hilltop castle of ‘mad’ King Ludwig II in the Bavarian Alps, the inspiration for Disney’s fantasy castles. Turrets and towers rise above forested gorges and lakes. It is one of the most photographed buildings in the world.

A thousand-year-old fortress on the Thames that has served as royal palace, prison and place of execution. It guards the dazzling Crown Jewels and is watched over by ravens and Beefeaters. Its history is as dark as it is grand.

The perfectly preserved medieval walled city on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, ringed by mighty ramparts you can walk. Marble streets, baroque churches and terracotta roofs glow above the sea. Fans will recognise it as Game of Thrones’ King’s Landing.

An astonishing group of Orthodox monasteries perched atop towering pillars of rock in central Greece. Built by monks seeking isolation, they seem to hover between earth and sky. The sunset views over the rock forest are sublime.

A colossal Gothic cathedral that took over 600 years to complete, its twin spires soaring above the German city and the Rhine. It survived WWII largely intact. Climbing the south tower rewards you with sweeping views.

A magnificent double-walled medieval citadel in southern France, bristling with 52 towers and turrets. Restored in the 19th century, it looks like a storybook come to life. Wander its ramparts and cobbled lanes after the day-trippers leave.

One of Europe’s best-preserved historic cities, a spellbinding sweep of Gothic and baroque architecture crowned by its hilltop castle. The Charles Bridge and Astronomical Clock are highlights. Bohemian beer halls line the old town.

Germany’s oldest cathedral and the first site in the country granted World Heritage status, built by Charlemagne around AD 800. Its glittering octagonal chapel is a marvel of early medieval art. Thirty German kings were crowned here.

A storybook fortress-palace rising on a rocky crag in Spain, its ship-like prow and slate turrets said to have inspired Disney. Inside are lavish Mudejar ceilings and a throne room. The Roman aqueduct nearby is equally astonishing.

Home to the Mezquita, a breathtaking mosque-cathedral of red-and-white striped arches that captures Spain’s Moorish golden age. The surrounding old town is a maze of flower-filled patios. It is one of Andalusia’s great treasures.