What sets these ruins apart from the plethora of ancient wonders in Rome? Firstly, their age: these structures date back more than two millennia. Secondly, the way these excavated temples and arches are clustered together makes it easy to imagine how grand the complex was when the Roman Empire ruled.

Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik’s entire Old Town is UNESCO World Heritage-listed and its steep cobbled streets, Baroque palaces and marble-paved squares are among the prettiest in Europe. Despite a devastating earthquake in 1667 and artillery damage in 1991, the city prevailed – and even gained a new legion of fans starring as King’s Landing in the blockbuster series, Game of Thrones. 

It’s difficult to fathom all the events Westminster Abbey has borne witness to since the 13th century – and to comprehend the entities entombed in its walls, floors and sarcophagi. Pay homage to its inhabitants: Mary Queen of Scots and her executioner, Elizabeth I, rest uneasily close; Dickens and Chaucer are in Poet’s Corner; and Stephen Hawking was laid near Isaac Newton.

The “Flavian Amphitheatre" doesn’t quite have the same ring. Along with its original moniker, the Colosseum changed its purpose constantly throughout its 2000 years. Variously a gladiator battlefield, cemetery, church and simple storehouse, it’s now the most visited attraction in Rome. Book a timed entry in advance to soak up as much of this impressive structure as possible.

Utter the immortal words, “Let them eat cake!” as you prance through the Hall of Mirrors or explore the Hameau, Marie Antoinette’s private retreat. Versailles was the principal royal residence until the French Revolution – when it was stripped of its furnishings and its inhabitants of their heads. Much has now been restored to its former glory.

The gardens beneath the storied steel structure are set to be transformed, making a visit to this icon even more beautiful. A green corridor running from Place du Trocadero to the Champ de Mars was unveiled in 2023 to provide even more space for travellers to stretch out on the grass surrounding the monument and appreciate its beauty. ​

Dominating the Acropolis and indeed the modern skyline is the Parthenon, completed in 438BC and enduring as a symbol of Ancient Greek civilisation. Standing at the foot of the Acropolis, visitors can glimpse the blue Athenian sky through the Parthenon’s Doric columns, a majestic sight that would have been just as arresting eons ago.  

Stop at Stonehenge as part of a daytrip from London to Bath and get the part of your mind dedicated to conspiracy theories working. How did the standing stones get there? Did ancient man really transport them more than 250 kilometres from their original location? Are glacial movements responsible? Aliens? Magic? You decide.   

If you don’t have a photo of yourself awkwardly propping up this slanted pile, have you even really been to Italy? Fun photo opps aside, the view of the Arno River and surrounding countryside after ascending the almost 300 marble steps to the top of the tower is stunning.

The lolly looking spires make this place of worship one of the most recognisable buildings in all of Russia. But the interior is just as stunning: its walls are adorned with more than 400 beautifully painted religious icons.

Some say it’s the most beautiful fountain in Rome, others maintain throwing coins into the bubbling waters will ensure, among other things, a return to the Eternal City. But what truly makes the Trevi Fountain stand out is that its grandeur is a surprise after rounding the corner from otherwise nondescript streets.

After the devastating fire in April 2019 that engulfed the majority of its roof and spire, this grand dame has since been restored and is once again open to the public for admiration. All previously roped-off areas, including its nave, belfry and North and South twin towers have been unveiled and are now open to the public for admiration.

Even if you’re not religious, the staggering scale of the home of Catholicism and the chance to appreciate some of the greatest artworks ever created is reason enough to pay this spiritual site a visit. Take in St Peter’s Square and Basilica, and, of course, Michelangelo’s Renaissance masterpiece fresco that graces the ceiling of the famed Sistine Chapel.

This king of canals splits the city in two for almost four kilometres – it’s the reason you come to so many dead ends as you zigzag through Venice’s backstreets. But there are plenty of bridges to trip across that offer vastly different views of the bustle on and alongside the waterway.

Know this: the Mona Lisa is smaller than you anticipate. But the Louvre itself – the palace and the glass pyramid – and the 35,000 other artworks on display within will more than make up for it.

Though not as untouched as they were in the decades before their charm was “discovered” by travellers, the multi-coloured villages of Cinque Terre really are as picturesque as they seem in any photos or films you’ve seen. Visit after summer, when the walking trail that skirts the sea and connects the towns becomes a little less crowded.

Luck plays a big part in whether you get a mere glimmer of green in the night sky or an all-out spectacle of dancing emerald, pink and yellow lights. Maximise your chances by visiting between September and April and venture out on a clear night with no full moon. The Aurora forecast can guide you.

Once a symbol of Germany’s division, the Brandenburg Gate is now a beloved marker of its reunification. It serves as the backdrop for scores of important events, including the Berlin Marathon, public viewings of make-or-break football matches and New Year’s Eve fireworks – this is where to go to get a taste of local life.

You can marvel at the façade of the palace anytime of year but you’ll only be permitted inside its hallowed State Rooms from July  to August while guided tours are available on select dates through winter and spring.

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The joy of this attraction lies not in gazing up at it from the ground but from ascending to the top. No less than 12 different roads spin out like a pinwheel from the central point and watching cars, trucks and brave cyclists manoeuvre to their desired exit is endlessly (and heart-stoppingly) entertaining.

Plan to spend a while admiring this whimsical piece of medieval history. On the hour, every hour, apostle figures appear at the windows that surround it, Death beckons, a man refuses and a rooster crows. Its dials also track the position of the sun and moon, Bohemian Time daybreak and sunset, and the path of the Zodiac.

Sagrada Família has been a work in progress for more than 135 years. Once you have your ticket, start on the Gaudi-designed side (opposite Placa de Gaudi) and make your way around the church to its opposite edge to see the architecture slowly give way to a more modern style.

If politics is your thing, this building has stood sentinel over all the key moments in the country’s tumultuous history (and still bears marks from some of them). If living history isn’t your idea of a good time, it’s still worth a visit: the panoramic view over Berlin from the rooftop is second to none.

Presiding over the city from Castle Rock, this fortress has been involved in some of Scotland’s most fraught conflicts. The oldest surviving building in the grounds, St Margaret’s Chapel, has stood for almost 900 years – but the volcanic rock on which it’s built had been used by Celtic tribes for millennia prior to that.

Set on almost five hectares in central London, the Tower was originally a castle. It’s been an armoury, menagerie and the Royal Mint but, most infamously, a prison. Since 1100, it’s held the likes of Anne Boleyn (beheaded in 1536) and the Kray twins (in 1952). Visitors beware – it’s haunted, of course.

On its own tiny island, Christiansborg Palace is the seat of the Danish Parliament. Visitors can see the current palace’s grand rooms on free guided tours but don’t forget to head underground for the ruins of Bishop Absolon’s Castle that date from 1167.

The extraordinary Guggenheim building alone is reason enough for a visit to the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, let alone the treasures found inside. The curved-metal Frank Gehry design is considered an architectural feat making it a worthy home for works such as Jeff Koons’ Puppy and Louise Bourgeois’ Maman.

Microbreweries might be having a moment but if you’re going to drink a tankard in Germany, this is the place to do it. It’s an institution: not only has it played a key role in the history of German politics and beer brewing, it also has its own currency and a popular tune written about it. Prost!

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