The must-books
Every city has a handful of things you can't leave without doing. You'll pay for them sooner or later. Book late and you pay more, queue longer, or miss out.
In every city we name the five things you can't miss. Then we show you the smartest way to book each one: the right ticket, the right tour, the right provider, so you get the best experience for what you pay.
Cheap can turn out expensive, and expensive isn't always good. Our picks come from our rating system and the collective intelligence of thousands of real reviews, read and filtered by people.
Prices are “from”, per adult and approximate, last checked Oct 2026. Confirm the final price when you book. € under €25 · €€ €25–75 · €€€ over €75.
Madrid
Museo del Prado
The reason art lovers come to Madrid: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Bosch under one roof.
Our tip: Buy a timed ticket online. The free last two hours sound great until you see the line.
Royal Palace of Madrid
Western Europe's largest royal palace by floor area, still used for state ceremonies.
Our tip: A guided tour is worth it here; the rooms make far more sense with someone explaining them.
Flamenco show
Live guitar, song and dance in an intimate tablao. Madrid has some of the best stages in Spain.
Our tip: Book a set show time with seats near the stage; drink or dinner packages are the usual format.
Toledo day trip
The medieval 'city of three cultures', an hour from Madrid, on a hill above the Tagus.
Our tip: A guided day trip covers the old town, the cathedral and the viewpoints. Many combine it with Segovia.
Tapas & wine tour
An evening hopping between classic bars in La Latina and Huertas with a local guide.
Our tip: Tastings add up to a full dinner. Go hungry and skip booking a restaurant that night.
Barcelona
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's basilica, still under construction and unlike anything else.
Our tip: Timed tickets sell out days ahead in summer. Tower access is a separate, limited add-on.
Park Güell
The mosaic terrace and gingerbread houses of Gaudí's hillside park.
Our tip: The Monumental Zone needs a timed ticket. Morning slots are cooler and less crowded.
Casa Batlló
Gaudí's most theatrical house on Passeig de Gràcia.
Our tip: Early or late slots avoid the tour-group rush.
Casa Milà – La Pedrera
Gaudí's stone apartment building, famous for its rooftop of sculpted chimneys.
Our tip: The rooftop is the highlight. Night visits with a light show run in some seasons.
Montserrat day trip
A mountain monastery an hour from Barcelona, home of the Black Madonna and dramatic rock peaks.
Our tip: Tours that include the rack railway or cable car take the hassle out of the transfers.
Rome
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
The heart of ancient Rome on one combined ticket.
Our tip: Book a timed entry or a guided tour. The arena floor and underground need special tickets.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Raphael Rooms, the map gallery and Michelangelo's ceiling.
Our tip: Timed tickets are essential. Early-entry tours beat the crowds into the Sistine Chapel.
Borghese Gallery
Bernini and Caravaggio in a villa set in a park.
Our tip: Reservation is mandatory and visits run in fixed time slots.
Pompeii & Vesuvius day trip
The Roman city frozen in ash, and the volcano that buried it.
Our tip: It's a long day from Rome. Bring water, a hat and good shoes.
Trastevere food tour
Supplì, cacio e pepe, gelato and wine through Rome's most charming quarter.
Our tip: Evening tours double as dinner. Small groups are worth the extra euros.
Paris
The Louvre
The world's most visited museum: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo.
Our tip: Book a timed entry. Without one you can queue for hours.
Eiffel Tower summit
The view from the top floor, not just the second level.
Our tip: Summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in summer.
Palace of Versailles
The Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments and gardens.
Our tip: Timed palace entry is required. Closed on Mondays.
Seine river cruise
An hour on the water past Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.
Our tip: Go at sunset, when the city lights come on.
Moulin Rouge show
The original Paris cabaret, with its famous French cancan.
Our tip: Book seats in advance. Smart dress is expected.
Amsterdam
Anne Frank House
The secret annex where Anne Frank hid during the war.
Our tip: Tickets are sold online only and go fast. There are no door sales.
Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum
Rembrandt's Night Watch and the world's largest Van Gogh collection.
Our tip: The Van Gogh Museum needs a timed online ticket.
Canal cruise
Seeing the city from the water is the best introduction.
Our tip: Evening cruises with lit-up bridges are worth the extra.
Zaanse Schans windmills
Working windmills and a traditional Dutch village a short drive from Amsterdam.
Our tip: Half-day tours often add the fishing towns of Volendam and Marken.
Heineken Experience
An interactive tour of the historic brewery, with tastings included.
Our tip: Book a timed slot online; late afternoon is the busiest.
London
Tower of London
Nearly a thousand years of history and the Crown Jewels.
Our tip: Go at opening and head straight to the Crown Jewels.
Westminster Abbey
Coronation church and resting place of monarchs and writers.
Our tip: Book online; it closes to visitors on Sundays for worship.
Stonehenge & Windsor day trip
The stone circle and the royal castle in one day.
Our tip: A coach tour is the simplest way; they're hard to combine by public transport.
London Eye
The giant wheel on the South Bank, with views over Westminster.
Our tip: Fast-track tickets cut the queue. Sunset slots sell first.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
The sets, costumes and props from the Harry Potter films, outside London.
Our tip: Tickets are timed and sell out. Packages with return coach transport are the easy option.
Lisbon
Jerónimos Monastery & Belém
Manueline masterpiece and the Belém riverside.
Our tip: Book ahead to skip a long line. Closed on Mondays.
Sintra & Pena Palace
Fairy-tale palaces in the hills outside Lisbon.
Our tip: Pena Palace runs on timed tickets; a guided day trip handles transport.
Fado dinner show
Portugal's soulful music in an intimate Alfama house.
Our tip: Choose a show with a set dinner and book a table.
Tagus sunset sail
A sailing boat on the river, past Belém Tower and under the 25 de Abril Bridge.
Our tip: Two-hour sunset trips are the best value. Bring a layer; it gets windy.
Lisbon Oceanarium
One of Europe's largest aquariums, in Parque das Nações.
Our tip: A great rainy-day plan, and a sure win with kids.
Milan
The Last Supper
Leonardo's mural in Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Our tip: Visits are short, in small groups, and sell out weeks ahead. Tours often hold the last tickets.
Duomo & rooftop terraces
Walk among the spires on the cathedral roof.
Our tip: Combined tickets include the terraces; the lift saves the climb.
Lake Como day trip
Villas and lakeside towns an hour from Milan.
Our tip: A tour with a boat cruise covers Bellagio and Varenna in one day.
Teatro alla Scala museum
Costumes, instruments and the history of the world's most famous opera house.
Our tip: When rehearsals allow, the visit includes a look at the auditorium from a box.
Bernina Express to St. Moritz
A day on the UNESCO-listed Bernina railway through the Swiss Alps.
Our tip: It's a long day and you cross into Switzerland. Bring your passport.
Florence
Uffizi Gallery
Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the core of Renaissance painting.
Our tip: Timed tickets are essential. Closed on Mondays.
Accademia Gallery
Michelangelo's David.
Our tip: Short visit, long queue without a reservation. Closed on Mondays.
Brunelleschi's Dome climb
463 steps to the top of the cathedral dome.
Our tip: The climb requires a reserved time slot.
Chianti wine tour
Tastings at family wineries in the hills between Florence and Siena.
Our tip: A tour means no one has to drive. Half-day options exist if you're short on time.
Pisa day trip
The Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles, an hour from Florence.
Our tip: Climbing the tower needs a timed ticket. Half-day trips are enough.
Prague
Prague Castle
St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane.
Our tip: Choose the circuit ticket; a guide explains a confusing complex.
Jewish Quarter
Synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.
Our tip: One ticket covers most sites. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Český Krumlov day trip
A UNESCO-listed riverside town in South Bohemia.
Our tip: It's a long day; a guided tour handles the transport.
Vltava dinner cruise
Dinner on the river, under Charles Bridge, with the castle lit up.
Our tip: Evening cruises with a window table are worth booking early.
Old Town Hall Tower
The best view over Old Town Square, above the astronomical clock.
Our tip: Go up first, then watch the clock strike the hour from the square.
Venice
Doge's Palace
The seat of the Venetian Republic: gilded halls, Tintoretto's giant canvas and the Bridge of Sighs.
Our tip: The St Mark's Square museums ticket covers it. The Secret Itineraries tour adds the prisons and hidden offices, with very few places.
St Mark's Basilica
Golden mosaics, the Pala d'Oro and the terrace over the square.
Our tip: Entry is cheap, the line isn't. A timed slot skips it; shoulders and knees must be covered.
Gondola ride
Thirty minutes through the small canals, the classic Venetian moment.
Our tip: Official rates are fixed by the city and go up after 7pm. A shared gondola is the budget way in.
Murano & Burano boat tour
Glass-blowing in Murano and the colourful fishermen's houses of Burano.
Our tip: A boat tour sorts out the timing; by vaporetto it works but takes most of the day.
Dolomites day trip
Alpine peaks, lakes and mountain villages, two hours from Venice.
Our tip: A long day (12 hours or more). Best from June to September.
Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' summer palace: state rooms, gardens and the Gloriette view.
Our tip: The Grand Tour covers 40 rooms. Timed entry; morning slots sell out in summer.
Spanish Riding School
The Lipizzaner stallions in a Baroque riding hall at the Hofburg.
Our tip: Gala performances sell out weeks ahead. The morning exercise is cheaper and easier to book.
Mozart & Strauss concert
An evening of Viennese classics in a historic hall.
Our tip: Skip the costumed street sellers and book online, with a clear seat category.
Belvedere Palace
Klimt's The Kiss in a Baroque palace with formal gardens.
Our tip: The Upper Belvedere ticket is enough for Klimt. Timed slots.
Wachau Valley day trip
Danube vineyards, Melk Abbey and a river cruise through wine country.
Our tip: Spring and autumn are best. Most tours include a stretch by boat.
Athens
Acropolis & Parthenon
The symbol of ancient Greece, high above the city.
Our tip: Entry runs on timed slots. Go at opening or late afternoon; a guide brings the ruins to life.
Acropolis Museum
The original sculptures and the Parthenon frieze, with the real thing in view.
Our tip: Friday has late opening. Pair it with the Acropolis on a combined tour.
Delphi day trip
The sanctuary of Apollo and the ancient oracle, on a mountainside.
Our tip: About two and a half hours each way; a guided tour handles transport and tickets.
Cape Sounion sunset
The Temple of Poseidon over the Aegean at golden hour.
Our tip: Half-day trips leave mid-afternoon to catch the sunset.
Hydra, Poros & Aegina cruise
Three Saronic islands in one day, with lunch on board.
Our tip: A full day. Hydra has no cars, just donkeys and boats.
Budapest
Hungarian Parliament
The neo-Gothic landmark on the Danube, home of the Holy Crown.
Our tip: Visits are by guided tour only, in set languages. Slots sell out; book ahead.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
Yellow neo-Baroque pools, steaming outdoors even in winter.
Our tip: Buy a skip-the-line ticket and bring flip-flops. A cabin costs a bit more than a locker.
Danube dinner cruise
Dinner on the river with the Parliament and the bridges lit up.
Our tip: Go after dark. Live music cruises fill up first.
Ruin bar tour
Bars in abandoned buildings in the old Jewish Quarter, starting with Szimpla Kert.
Our tip: A local guide gets you past the busiest ones to the best.
Danube Bend day trip
Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom along a river curve.
Our tip: A full day; in summer many tours come back by boat.
Berlin
Berlin TV Tower
The city from 203 metres up, from Germany's tallest structure.
Our tip: Timed tickets; sunset slots sell first. Fast-view tickets skip the line.
Museum Island
Five world-class museums, including Nefertiti at the Neues Museum.
Our tip: The Pergamon Museum is partly closed for renovation. A day pass covers the others.
Potsdam day trip
Sanssouci, the Prussian kings' summer palace and gardens.
Our tip: The palace needs a timed ticket; a tour includes it and the transport.
Berlin Wall & Cold War tour
Checkpoint Charlie, the East Side Gallery and the Bernauer Strasse memorial.
Our tip: Bernauer Strasse is free and the most moving part; a guide connects the story.
Sachsenhausen Memorial tour
The former concentration camp north of Berlin, now a memorial and museum.
Our tip: Entry is free; a guided visit gives essential context. Plan about six hours.
Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
Nearly 1,500 years of history under one dome.
Our tip: Foreign visitors pay and enter by the upper gallery. Closed to visitors at prayer times.
Topkapı Palace
The Ottoman sultans' palace, the Harem and the treasury.
Our tip: Closed on Tuesdays. Go at opening; the Harem is the best part.
Bosphorus cruise
Between Europe and Asia, past palaces and wooden mansions.
Our tip: A sunset cruise is the classic; dinner cruises add a show.
Basilica Cistern
A Byzantine underground reservoir with 336 columns and the Medusa heads.
Our tip: Lines are long by midday. Evening slots are calmer.
Turkish bath (hamam)
A traditional bath in a historic Ottoman hamam.
Our tip: Book a set time. Packages vary a lot; check what the scrub and massage include.
Dublin
Guinness Storehouse
The story of Ireland's stout, with a pint in the Gravity Bar.
Our tip: Book timed entry. Late slots end with the sunset over the city.
Cliffs of Moher day trip
The 200-metre cliffs on the Atlantic, Ireland's star day trip.
Our tip: A long day of about 11 hours. Many tours add Galway or the Burren.
Book of Kells & Trinity College
The illuminated 9th-century manuscript and Ireland's oldest university.
Our tip: Tickets are timed; the earliest slot is the calmest.
Jameson Distillery Bow St.
The original Jameson distillery, with a guided tasting.
Our tip: Book a slot; the tasting is included.
Wicklow & Glendalough day trip
Mountains, lakes and a monastic site in the Garden of Ireland.
Our tip: An easy day out, back in time for dinner in the city.
Munich
Neuschwanstein Castle day trip
Ludwig II's fairy-tale castle in the Bavarian Alps.
Our tip: Castle tickets are timed and limited. Check that your tour includes or reserves them.
Beer & food tour
Beer halls, the Viktualienmarkt and Bavarian classics with a local.
Our tip: Go hungry. Weekday tours are calmer than Saturdays.
Munich Residenz
Germany's largest city palace, with the Treasury and the Antiquarium.
Our tip: The combined ticket adds the Treasury; allow two hours.
BMW Welt & Museum
A century of cars and motorbikes next to the Olympic Park.
Our tip: BMW Welt is free; the museum needs a ticket.
Salzburg day trip
Mozart's city, about 1 h 30 min away, across the Austrian border.
Our tip: Easy by train on your own; tours add the Sound of Music sites.
Bruges
Canal boat tour
Bruges from the water, under low bridges and past the old houses.
Our tip: About 30 minutes. Go early or late; midday queues at the jetties are long.
Belfry of Bruges
366 steps to the top of the medieval tower over the Markt.
Our tip: Visitor numbers are capped, so book a timed slot.
Chocolate workshop
Make your own pralines with a Belgian chocolatier.
Our tip: Workshops are small and fill up; book a day or two ahead.
De Halve Maan brewery tour
Bruges' family brewery, with a tasting and a view from the roof.
Our tip: Book ahead in summer. The brewery has a beer pipeline under the city.
Flanders Fields WWI tour
Ypres, the trenches and the war cemeteries of the Great War.
Our tip: Tours timed for the Last Post at the Menin Gate, every evening at 8pm.
Kraków
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
The former Nazi German camp, now a memorial and museum.
Our tip: Entry must be booked and guided visits are required at peak times. Tickets go weeks ahead; allow about seven hours with transport.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Underground chapels and lakes carved out of salt, 135 metres down.
Our tip: Visits are guided only; about 800 steps down, lift back up.
Wawel Royal Castle & Cathedral
The castle and cathedral of Polish kings, on a hill above the Vistula.
Our tip: Exhibitions have separate tickets and daily limits. Book early in summer.
Schindler's Factory
The museum of Kraków under Nazi occupation, in Oskar Schindler's factory.
Our tip: Timed tickets with small capacity; book ahead.
Zakopane & Tatra Mountains
Poland's mountain town, with wooden houses and a funicular to the peaks.
Our tip: A full day; dress for mountain weather.