Europe is full of wonderful sites to see. I am convinced you could live there for years and not run out of great places to visit. Here is my list of the top five must-see sites in Europe.
European must-see site #1 – Mont St. Michel, Normandy France
Mont St. Michel is unbelievable. You can see it from miles away. It appears to magically rise out of the water. Rick Steves recommends that you get there late in the day. Spend the night when the place empties out, and explore the sites first thing in the morning. That is an excellent plan. Visit Mont St. Michel if you are in the area. I have never seen anything like it. You will spend the whole time while you are there thinking how in the world did they build this place.
European must-see site #2 – Neuschwanstein, Bavaria Germany
Neuschwanstein is the castle located in Bavaria near the Alps that inspired Disney. Mad King Ludwig built this castle. It is kind of out of the world, particularly because of the setting it is in. Yes – it is touristy. Buy your tickets online. Be sure to visit early or late in the day, or you will be swimming in a sea of tourists. I recommend you also visit Hohenschwangau, the castle that King Ludwig grew up in, while you are there.
European must-see site #3 – Versailles Palace, near Paris France
Versailles is an easy hour-long train ride from Paris. It is the best palace in all of Europe. Others are imitations of what King Louis the XIV of France built. I have been to Versailles multiple times, and I always see something new every time I visit. Spend a day there and explore all of Versailles to include the Hall of Mirrors, and the gardens. The divine right of Monarchs will make more sense to you when you experience King Louis’s wonderland.
European must-see site #4 – Tower of London, London England
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror almost a thousand years ago. Sure it is touristy, but spend a day there. Take a beefeater tour, see the crown jewels, and wander around the complex. Experience the Tower for what it is, and what it was. William built the Tower to let everyone know that he was large and in charge.
European must-see site #5 – Camp Nou, Barcelona Spain
Why am I including a soccer stadium on this list? I am a fan. If you are a soccer fan, go to a stadium and experience a game. Sure – I paid a lot of money for nose-bleed seats. But, I had the best time hanging out with 100,000 crazy Catalonian soccer fans. It was a bucket list item for me.
Three quick questions about must-see sites in Europe
- What is the must-see site that I want to revisit the most – Montserrat, Catalonia Spain. Mystical mountaintop place.
- What is the new must-see site that I want to explore soon – The Colosseum, Rome Italy. Top of my list for Rome.
- What is the obscure must-see site that I want to discover – Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland. A geological wonder.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to sons.