30 Surprising Experiences to Add to Your European Bucket List

Forget too-rich bowls of pasta laced in cream – authentic carbonara is light, silky and utterly buono. One of the Eternal City’s classics, this beloved pasta dish is a deceptively simple tangle of guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino, egg and spaghetti (with plenty of freshly cracked pepper). The best places to sample this carby goodness? Salumeria Roscioli near Campo de’ Fiori, one of Rome's most sought-after dining spots or, for a modern twist, San Giovanni’s trattoria SantoPalato, where the plates are almost too pretty to eat.

The coastline of Croatia is famed for its pristine waters and craggy cliffs. Did you know that just next door in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there’s even more beauty to behold? Kravica Waterfalls on the Trebižat River form a dazzling, 120-metre-wide natural amphitheatre surrounded by forested cliffs and turquoise pools. Cool off with a swim, then explore nearby Koćuša Falls and the Franciscan Museum in Humac — all included in the entry ticket. Located just an hour from fairytale-pretty Mostar, the falls can also be visited on a guided day trip with Mostar Travel.

Like taking a gondola ride in Venice, punting (or boating in a narrow, flat-bottomed boat) is the quintessential way to experience the river-striped city of Cambridge and its famed university grounds. Hire your vessel from Scudamore’s and push yourself along the River Cam using a quant (long pole), or opt for a chauffeured tour with Rutherford’s for a more relaxed ride. Glide past postcard-perfect landmarks of King’s College Chapel and The Wren Library at Trinity College before hopping off your boat and stopping in at the Orchard Tea Rooms in Grantchester for scones, complete with a dollop of clotted cream and jam.

Paris’ revered Louvre is the most-visited museum in the world, drawing more than 8.7 million people in 2024 alone to its hallowed halls of iconic art. For a more intimate experience, consider visiting on a Wednesday or Friday evening when the museum stays open until 9pm, giving you the chance to admire icons such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo without the usual crowds. Bonus: gazing up at the Louvre Pyramid, illuminated in the darkness, is a real “pinch me” Parisian moment.

Drifting above the ethereal “fairy chimneys” of Turkey’s Cappadocia region in a hot air balloon is an experience you won’t soon forget. Formed by erosion some 60 million years ago, the honey-hued rock spires are now home to everything from cosy cave hotels to ancient churches carved into the cliffs. Equally mesmerising: watching the sky fill with dozens of brightly coloured balloons at sunrise from below. Opt for a small-group flight with Cappadocia Voyager Balloons or Royal Balloon or simply step out onto your hotel’s balcony and watch the show.

Stockholm’s subway system doubles as the world’s longest art gallery, with over 90 of its 100 stations featuring floor-to-ceiling murals, mosaics, sculptures and installations from a stable of more than 150 artists. Spend a day doing the rounds underground and make certain to bookmark the jagged LED light art by David Svensson at Odenplan or the whimsical, crayon-style drawings by Elis Eriksson and Gösta Wallmark at Hallonbergen or even the blue and white splendour of T-Centralen.

This remote cluster of 18 rugged islands between Iceland and Norway is a dream for wildlife lovers – most notably because it’s also paradise for puffins. From April to August, hundreds of thousands of these comically cute seabirds flock here to mate. Catch a ferry to the westernmost island of Mykines to see them swoop and soar overhead, then unwind at Havdypp with an outdoor spa, sauna and cold plunge overlooking moody Leynar Beach.

Step back in time at one of Florence’s historic wine windows, or buchette del vino. First used nearly 500 years ago by noble families to sell wine directly to the public, these small arched openings are enjoying a renaissance, thanks in part to pandemic-era distancing. Spot one using a community-sourced map, ring the bell and order a glass (or even a Tuscan snack or two), just as 17th-century Florentines once did.

The architecture of European museums is often just as marvellous to observe as its contents. This is also true of Munch Museum’s tilted, aluminium-clad facade that rises over Oslo’s Bjørvika waterfront, announcing itself as a masterpiece well before you’ve stepped inside. There are 13 floors celebrating the Norwegian icon with works spanning versions of The Scream plus rotating exhibitions, a Scandi-cool rooftop bar and even a schedule of family-friendly workshops. Cap off your culture fix with a steam in a floating sauna on the Oslo Fjord at KoK or Oslo Badstuforening.

If you’ve seen Paris’ Champs-Elysees, try this imposing arch. No visit to Berlin is complete without visiting the Brandenburg Gate, an imposing neo-classical beauty that has come to symbolise Germany’s reunification. While it’s stunning at all times of day, it is a knockout at sunrise. Daybreak is a can’t-miss photo-op and one of the few times you’ll see the popular tourist site nearly empty. Afterwards, follow your nose to Zwipf Coffee for a post-sightseeing pick-me-up.

There’s no shortage of classical art in Europe so why not try something a little different? Housed in a vast former shipyard, Amsterdam’s STRAAT Museum celebrates global street art at an impressive scale. Over 180 works — many created onsite — adorn its industrial walls. Highlights include Eduardo Kobra’s vibrant Anne Frank mural and a 7-metre flamingo sculpture by Dulk. Feeling inspired? Join a graffiti workshop and learn how to tag nearby shipping containers.

Just like Paris’ famous Père Lachaise Cemetery, London’s Highgate Cemetery is also a worthy attraction. Home to ivy-draped tombstones, Victorian catacombs and the graves of Karl Marx and George Michael, it’s equal parts eerie and enchanting. Book ahead for a guided tour of the West Cemetery, including the striking Egyptian Avenue and Circle of Lebanon, normally closed to the public.

Greece isn’t the only country boasting an incredible sprinkling of atolls: Croatia’s coastline is scattered with more than 1,200 islands, each with its own charm. Base yourself at mindful-luxury resort Maslina on Hvar to explore them by day: swim in Mljet’s grottoes, wander Korčula’s cobbled streets, sip wine on Krk or find solitude in Cres’s hidden bays. For the ultimate freedom, charter a yacht and follow your whims.

If Portobello Road was a London highlight, you’ll love this lesser-known market in Spain. Set beneath a soaring mirrored roof, Barcelona’s Mercat dels Encants welcomes a melting pot of locals and visitors, bargain hunters and antiques collectors. Open four days a week, the busy flea market has existed in one form or another since around 1300 and its seemingly endless lanes of stalls sell everything from vintage jewellery to electrical equipment and second-hand clothes and books, while busking musicians provide the lively soundtrack.

Italy’s Amalfi Coast rightly garners a fair amount of attention but now it’s time to turn your attention to the north: La Spezia’s Via dell'Amore, or “Path of Love,” reopened in 2024 after more than a decade. The trail was closed to the public in 2012 after a landslide but has been safely restored, with new footpaths carved into the steep cliffs. The 900-metre trail connects Riomaggiore and Manarola, two of Cinque Terre’s prettiest villages, with sweeping views over the Ligurian Sea. Its romantic name comes from local lore — it once served as a discreet meeting point for lovers from both towns.

Where should you go for your very own The Sound of Music adventure? Switzerland’s only national park, founded in 1914, is a pristine alpine wilderness of snowy peaks, jewel-coloured lakes, high-altitude meadows and spectacular hikes like the 10-kilometre trail up Alp Trupchun. Join a park ranger to spot ibex and golden eagles, then spend the night at Chamanna Cluozza — the park’s only serviced hut — for a cosy, off-grid experience.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Malta’s capital – the oft-overlooked Valetta – is often dubbed an “open-air museum” thanks to its well-preserved architecture and 320 historical monuments packed into just 55 hectares. Amble through Upper Barrakka Gardens for sweeping harbour views, then explore the ornate St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master’s Palace. For a stay as grand as the setting, check into Iniala Harbour House.

With its emerald waters, alpine backdrop and tiny, church-topped island perched in the centre, Slovenia’s postcard-perfect Lake Bled is pure magic. Ride a traditional pletna boat to the island, climb the 99-step staircase and ring the 16th-century wishing bell for good luck. In summer, the lake’s mild thermal springs make it perfect for a swim, with water temperatures reaching 25°C in August.

Scotland’s countryside is more than its green, rolling hills. The hike up to the top of this ancient, extinct volcano in the country’s capital from its base in Holyrood Park takes less than an hour. From the summit, enjoy city-wide views: spot the Royal Mile lined with towering tenements and Edinburgh Castle, plus the Firth of Forth on a clear day. It’s a rocky, rugged descent, so refuel with a full Scottish breakfast (lamb or veggie haggis included) at Ardfern.

Nowhere does a Christmas market quite like Europe. Come December, Austria’s capital city transforms into a festive fairytale. At the Wiener Christkindlmarkt in front of City Hall, ride an old-fashioned merry-go-round, sip mulled wine, snack on vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies) and browse twinkling stalls for a very special seasonal souvenir. For more magic, head to the Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace, set against the baroque grandeur of its 17th-century gardens.

Some may have the legs to attempt Spain’s Camino de Santiago but if you’re looking for a more achievable hike, try winding through White Mountains National Park on Crete, Greece’s largest island. This 16-kilometre trek through Europe’s longest gorge starts at Xyloskalo, with an altitude of 1,230m. It’s a challenging downhill route and takes about six hours but along the way, you’ll see Venetian castles, long-abandoned towns, magnificent mountain scenery and if you’re lucky, more than a few kri-kri, Crete’s elusive mountain goats. Finish with a well-deserved pitstop at coastal village Agia Roumeli and enjoy a Mythos beer at one of the seaside tavernas. 

Come to France for the pastry, stay for its scenery. The rolling rows of lavender that blanket Provence from June to August make it one of the most picturesque (and best-smelling) places in Europe. Explore the fields around the 12th-century Sénanque Abbey, pose at the photogenic Lavandes Angelvin farm or take the four-kilometre Chemin des Lavandes (Lavender Path) loop in Sault​​. Enjoy a post-walk lavender-oil massage at Le Couvent des Minimes, set in an elegantly restored 17th-century convent.