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The Ultimate Europe Bucket List: 100+ AMAZING Things to Do in Europe (2023)

If you are interested in travel, you can be sure that Europe is somewhere at the top of the list for places you would like to visit during your lifetime.  But planning a trip to Europe can be overwhelming as there are so many beautiful places to visit and amazing things to do. To get you started I’ve created this epic guide containing over 100 things to see and do in Europe which are perfect for any Europe Bucket List.

Ultimate Europe Bucket List (2023)

Ultimate Europe Travel Bucket List Challenge

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a booking after clicking on these links, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Austria Bucket List

Belgium Bucket List

RELATED – Planning a trip to Europe soon? Make sure to check out our Europe Packing List for all the travel essentials for Europe.

Croatia Bucket List

  • See the stunning Old Town of Dubrovnik. You can also take a Game of Thrones Tour to see filming locations.
  • Explore the pretty city of Split, a town on the Dalmatian Coast, known for its medieval town centre, beaches and stunning nature that surrounds it.
  • Explore the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park one of Croatia’s oldest and largest national parks. This UNESCO World Heritage Site can be visited on a day trip from either Split or Zadar.
  • Visit Stari Grad, a fairy tale town on the island of Hvar. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe and a UNESCO Heritage site.

Czech Republic Bucket List

  • Walk around Prague. Don’t miss the famous Charles Bridge.
  • Take a day tour from Prague to Cesky Krumlov, a cute town and home to the largest chateau in the Czech Republic. Its historic centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Take a day trip from Prague to the beautiful spa town of Karlovy Vary.

Denmark Bucket List

  • Visit the beautiful capital city of Copenhagen.

Finland Bucket List

  • Visit the capital city of Helsinki.
  • Stay in a glass igloo hotel and maybe even see the Northern Lights!
  • Visit Lapland, Santa’s hometown and a winter wonderland.

France Bucket List

  • Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

paris is one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe

  • See Mona Lisa and other works of art in the Louvre. For more things to do in Paris, check out this 4 day Paris itinerary.
  • Take a day trip from Paris to Versailles.
  • Visit the picturesque cities and towns in the Alsace region in north-eastern France. Colmar, Strasbourg and Kaysersberg are at the top of my European bucket list.

Germany Bucket List

  • See the remaining portion of the Berlin Wall.
  • Visit the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, a symbol of European unity.
  • Visit Munich during Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival.
  • Have a beer at the Hofbräuhaus, a traditional beer hall in Munich.
  • Visit the beautiful and famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. You can visit on a day trip from Munich.
  • Take a road trip on the Romantic Road which takes you to some of the prettiest castles and fairytale towns in Germany including Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
  • Experience the beauty of the Black Forest.

Greece Bucket List

  • Visit the beautiful natural wonders of Melissani lake (a stunning lake inside a cave whose roof fell a few thousand years ago!) and Myrtos beach (some of the bluest waters in the Ionian) in Kefalonia.

Iceland Bucket List

  • The Golden Circle is a must when visiting Iceland and includes Thingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss (a beautiful waterfall). This popular tourist route in southern Iceland is easily done as day trip from Reykjavik.
  • Drive the entire length of Ring Road (Route 1), the main highway in Iceland which runs around the island and connects most of the country, including many major attractions. The entire loop requires at least a week to see it properly but you can drive part of the route if time is more limited (Höfn to Vík is considered one of the most beautiful parts).
  • Soak and relax in the iconic Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa and Iceland’s most popular visitor destination.
  • Another alternative to the Blue Lagoon, is the new Sky Lagoon.
  • Spend some time in the capital of Reykjavík.
  • Visit one or more of the many beautiful Iceland waterfalls. In addition to Gullfoss, which is part of the the Golden Circle route, other amazing waterfalls include Dettifoss (the most powerfull waterfall in Europe), Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.
  • See an Icelandic horse up close. These horses are small and cute and can be spotted all around Iceland outside of Reykjavík. You can sign up for a horse riding tour from Reykjavík.
  • Join a puffin watching tour to spot a cute Atlantic puffin. Puffins can be spotted in Iceland from early April until early September.
  • Go snorkeling or dive in the clearest water in the world between tectonic plates at Silfra.

Read: Iceland Bucket List: BEST Things to do in Iceland

Ireland Bucket List

  • Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.
  • Drink a pint of Guinness in Dublin.
  • Take a day trip from Dublin to Cliffs of Moher.

Italy Bucket List

  • Toss a coin and make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

  • Explore the many ancient historical ruins like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in Rome.
  • Walk around the Vatican and admire the beautiful Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
  • Rent a house in Tuscany and enjoy Italy like a local.
  • Snap a cheesy photo of you holding up the leaning tower of Pisa.
  • Admire the colorful houses of the five villages of the Cinque Terre.

  • Make a day trip to beautiful Portofino and spot celebrities and millionaires visiting on their megayachts.
  • Go hiking in the Dolomites, a mountain range located in northeastern Italy.
  • Enjoy Lake Como.
  • Ride a gondola in Venice.
  • See Michelangelo’s David and other great art in Florence. Read: 5 Attractions Not to Miss in Florence, Italy

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy

  • Drive along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast in southern Italy.
  • Have a Pizza margherita in Naples (the birthplace of pizza).
  • Take a boat into the beautiful Blue Grotto in the island of Capri.

Netherlands Bucket List

  • Visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.  Tickets must be booked online in advance from their website.
  • Walk through Amsterdam’s red light district.
  • Spend some time in one of Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops.

Read:  One Day in Amsterdam Itinerary

  • Take a day trip to the Keukenhof flower gardens to see the beautiful tulip fields. Keukenhof is only open in the spring.
  • Take a day trip from Amsterdam to the charming little village of Giethoorn known for its waterways, steep wooden bridges and old Dutch farmhouses. Cars are not allowed in the old part of Giethoorn, so the best way to explore Giethoorn is by boat.
  • Take day trip from Amsterdam to the picturesque traditional Dutch village of Zaanse Schans. Here you can find the best deals for Zaanse Schans tours.
  • See the Cube Houses in Rotterdam.

Norway Bucket List

  • See the fjords in western Norway.
  • Hike to Trolltunga.  It is a challenging 10-12 hour hike but the views from the top are amazing.
  • Hike to Kjerag and take a picture of the Kjeragbolten boulder. It is a challenging 6 hour hike.
  • Hike to the Pulpit Rock (also known as Preikestolen).  This is a more moderate hike but tends to be crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can book a sunset hike.
  • Spot polar bears in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago located between mainland Norway and the North Pole, and one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas.

Portugal Bucket List

  • Visit the beautiful capital city of Lisbon.
  • Visit the fairytale town of Sintra, a popular day trip from Lisbon.
  • Visit the Algarve region, which is known for its beautiful beaches with incredible cliffs and rock formations.
  • Drink Port in Porto.
  • Visit the unique historic village of Monsanto.

Romania Bucket List

  • Visit the capital city of Bucharest.

Read:  Top Things to Do in Bucharest (according to a local!)

  • Visit the picturesque city of Sibiu, a hidden gem in Transylvania.

Hidden Travel Gems in Europe You Need to Visit: Sibiu, Romania

Slovenia Bucket List

Spain Bucket List

  • Admire art at the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid.
  • Marvel at the amazing architecture in Barcelona.
  • Party in the popular town of Ibiza.
  • Take part in the La Tomatina festival in the town of Buñol (close to Valencia) where locals and tourists throw tomatoes at each other.  It is held yearly on the last Wednesday of August.
  • Visit the Alhambra in Granada.
  • Pay a visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao which is known for its modern works of art and great architecture.
  • Visit the underrated city of Ronda, the largest of Andalusia’s many ‘pueblos blancos’ (white towns).
  • Visit the beautiful city of Seville, the capital of Andalusia in southern Spain.

Sweden Bucket List

  • Visit Stockholm Palace in Stockholm, Sweden which is one of the largest palaces in Europe.
  • Stay at Icehotel, the world’s first ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden.

Switzerland Bucket List

  • Get your adrenaline pumping at Interlaken, the adventure capital of Europe.  Some of the many adventure activities available here include skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, bungee-jumping, white-water rafting and more.
  • Take the cable car from Zermatt to the highest cable car station to see the Matterhorn.
  • Stand on Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, a view and adventure platform 3,454 metres above sea level, and enjoy beautiful views of the Alps.
  • Take the famous Glacier Express, a train route along the top of the Alpine range with some of the most beautiful scenery.
  • Enjoy the stunning views at Oeschinen Lake. In the summer you can even take a fun ride down on a mountain slide!

United Kingdom Bucket List

  • Explore London, visiting some of its must-see sights like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey.

Read: 48 Hours in London: The Perfect Itinerary (According to a Local!)

  • Visit Windsor Castle most recently in the news as the site of the Royal Wedding.
  • Visit Stonehenge.
  • Explore the pretty English villages in the Cotswolds. Click here to book a day trip from London.
  • Explore the Lake District, England’s largest national park famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (including Scafell Pike the largest mountain in England).
  • Ride the fastest zip line in the world and longest in Europe at ZipWorld in North Wales.
  • Explore the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Take a trip to Loch Ness try to spot Nessie, the Lochness monster.
  • Swim in the Fairy Pools beautifully crystal clear blue pools in the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
  • Admire the beauty of Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
  • Walk through the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland which is a tunnel of trees featured in Game of Thrones.

More European Bucket List Ideas and Inspiration

  • See the Northern Lights. There are no guarantees but the best countries to spot the Northern Lights are Iceland, Finland and Norway.
  • Take a trip on the Orient Express train. There are several different routes.
  • Go on a cruise on the Danube River.
  • Zipline from Spain to Portugal on the first cross-border zip line in the world.
  • Soak in one of the many thermal baths in Budapest, Hungary.
  • Visit Krakow –  one of the best cities to visit in Poland.
  • Visit one of the many Christmas markets in Europe.
  • Visit the town of Monte Carlo in Monaco and hit the casino tables.
  • Visit the beautiful Baltic capitals (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).
  • See the beautiful Stari Most bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • Marvel at the spectacular Hagia Sophia, one of the best-known attractions in Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Visit the tiny but beautiful country of San Marino and the least visited country in all of Europe.
  • Explore the Faroe Islands, a group of islands in the North Atlantic located between Scandinavia and Iceland, and voted one of the top destinations by National Geographic.

So there you have it – the ultimate Europe bucket list.  If you any suggestions for bucket list worthy places in Europe I should add to this list, let me know in the comments below.


Need more bucket list inspiration for traveling to Europe? Check out some of our other articles about the best places to visit in Europe:

If you love travel bucket lists, you might enjoy our other travel bucket lists:

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The Ultimate Europe Bucket List: 100+ Epic Things to Do in Europe
The best things to do in Europe that need to be on your travel bucket list! | Europe travel | trip to Europe | travel through Europe | Europe trip | Europe places to visit | Europe vacation | Europe travel destinations | Europe travel guide | European bucket list challenge

Patti

12 Comments

  1. I love your Croatian bucket list – as I’m Croatian. But others are also very nice and some things I still didn’t see around the Europe 🙂
    But about Croatia – I would like to mention Zagreb (the capital) also, it’s very nice 🙂

  2. This extensive list is a proof that Europe is not the size of Eastwood Mall. Hehehe! Kidding aside, we would love to do a European tour. It’s a dream of ours, considering that we’re from the Philippines. Our ultimate European dream is to climb the Alps and the mountains in Scotland.

  3. That’s an extensive list of all the European countries I think of visiting. I visited Spain last year and I am glad to find Ronda in your list. This December I head to Iceland and I am certainly going to drive the N1 plus Golden circle is definitely a part of my itinerary apart from other things you mentioned in your list for Iceland.

  4. OMG so many amazing things to see and do. How did you find the time?!?!?!?!? Definitely Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein! Absolutely Florence! I think you should add pancakes in Amsterdam. Zermatt was amazing. This is an amazing list

  5. Wow, that is quite a list! You did all of them? I would love to do a Europe tour and visit all these wonderful places.

  6. Oh yes, that is a big list. Enough for anyone to find something they like.Happy to see that I have some of those, but many to go.

  7. WOW, this is an epic European Bucket List indeed! While I’ve been fortunate to check off a bunch of these, so many more are on my Euro Bucket List! And a few I hadn’t considered yet. Thanks!

  8. I have done a fair few of these bucket list things, but there are some on here that I’ve not even heard of before. Seeing as I’m based in the UK, I really have no excuses not to get on and tick some of these off! x

  9. Wow, this is a massive list! This is just what I need for my next trip to Europe. Thanks so much. I’ve pinned to refer back to.

  10. This is a fantastic link! We travel Europe in our Motorhome and this blog has given us loads of ideas! Thank you 🙂

  11. What a fantastic list and photos. I am officially saving your page as part of my research because I am going travelling this year so you have given me inspiration.

  12. The Swiss Mountain Coaster looks amazingly fun with stupendous scenery. Lake Bled with the island castle, and mountain backdrop is beautiful.

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