From fairytale palaces like Versailles and Neuschwanstein to ancient Roman ruins, Europe is packed full of showstopping tourist attractions, but which are the most popular? We’ve analyzed thousands of attractions across the continent, including everything from fortresses and castles to museums and amphitheatres. We compared these landmarks using annual Google searches, Tripadvisor reviews, TikTok views and Instagram hashtags to reveal Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. So, whether you’re plotting your next trip to Europe or planning a city getaway, make sure you tick these blockbuster sites off at the same time.
25. Schonbrunn Palace – Vienna, Austria
- Instagram hashtags: 101,417
- TikTok views: 553,700
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 1,780,000
Schonbrunn Palace is possibly Vienna’s best-looking palace, and in a city brimming with them, that’s saying something. The former Habsburg summer residence has racked up more than 553,700 TikTok views and nearly 1.8 million google searches a year to prove it.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is now one of Austria’s most famous cultural assets. Emperor Leopold I commissioned the palace at the end of the seventeenth century and by the end of the eighteenth century, it had transformed into a palatial imperial residence. Visitors today can explore some of the 1,441 rooms, hunting grounds and baroque gardens.
24. Buda Castle – Budapest, Hungary
- Instagram hashtags: 205,183
- TikTok views: 1,900,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 5,060,000
This epic castle complex certainly draws the crowds, with nearly one million visitors every year. Social media buffs will find more than 205 thousand Instagram hashtags and 1.9 million TikTok views. The landmark receives an average of well over five million Google searches a year too, making it one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions.
Buda Castle dates back to the 13th century, though little remains of its origins. The Ottomans rebuilt most of the original structure during the mid-16th, which was later rebuilt in its Baroque style in the mid-18th century. Today, it houses an array of brilliant museums and galleries, including the National Szechenyi Library, the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery.
23. Jeronimos Monastery – Lisbon, Portugal
- Instagram hashtags: 32,051
- TikTok views: 23,800,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 459,000
Turns out, highly ornate monasteries make excellent fodder for social media. The eye-popping Jeronimos Monastery has racked up an incredible 23.8 million views on TikTok alone.
Designed to commemorate the voyage of Vasco de Gama, the first European to reach India by sea, construction works began in 1501. The complex was completed in the 17th century and was home to the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome, who gave guidance to sailors. These days, visitors can explore the church and tombs of explorers like Vasco de Gama, the vaulted cloisters and the serene gardens.
22. Dubrovnik Old Walls – Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Instagram hashtags: 19,622
- TikTok views: 118,300
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 9,230,000
Dubrovnik’s defining feature is a spectacular sight to behold. Google agrees; there are more than 9.2 million searches for Dubrovnik Old Walls every year.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these medieval stone walls are widely considered to be amongst the greatest fortifications of the Middle Ages. The walls stretch 1,940 metres around the Old Town, connected by six fortresses: Lovrijenac, Revelin, Minceta, Bokar, St John and St Lucas. If they look familiar, you may have spotted them in the hit TV series Game of Thrones too.
21. Nyhavn – Copenhagen, Denmark
- Instagram hashtags: 605,379
- TikTok views: 3,900,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 4,940,000
This quintessentially Danish landmark is one of the country's most popular spots. The site has amassed more than 605 thousand Instagram hashtags, 3.9 million TikTok views and close to five million google searches.
Established by King Christian V in the 18th century, Nyhavn (New Port) quickly became a hub for trading and social activity. Today, thousands of people hotfoot here to get a snap next to the rows of old colourful houses and follow in the footsteps of renowned writers like Hans Christian Anderson. The oldest house dates back to 1681 and it’s hardly changed a bit.
20. Reichstag – Berlin, Germany
- Instagram hashtags: 333,859
- TikTok views: 335,800
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 17,700,000
The Reichstag has amassed close to 700 thousand Instagram hashtags, TikTok views and a whopping 17.7 million annual google searches.
Berlin’s historic government building is one of the city’s most important landmarks. Designed by Paul Wallnot in the Italian renaissance style, the building has been the site of several significant historical events. Its most distinctive feature, a glittering glass dome offers panoramic views of the whole city too.
19. Blue Lagoon – Grindavik, Iceland
- Instagram hashtags: 120,803
- TikTok views: 28,200,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 13,100,000
One of the 25 natural wonders of the world, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is a real head turner. Little wonder why it’s one of Europe’s most popular sites then. With around 28.2 million TikTok views and over 120 thousand Instagram hashtags, it’s a real hit on social media platforms. Visitors have rated it a respectable 4.5 on Trip Advisor too.
As showstopping tourist attractions go, the Blue Lagoon has only recently become a hit with tourists. Before then, it was one of Iceland’s best-kept secrets. With its black-lava field, bright blue waters and perfect puffs of steam, it’s picture perfect. Let’s just say, we’re glad the secret is finally out.
18. Charles Bridge – Prague, Czech Republic
- Instagram hashtags: 720,424
- TikTok views: 3,900,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 325,000,000
Possibly one of Europe’s most beautiful bridges, Charles Bridge is also one of the continent’s most popular attractions. To date, it has over 720,000 Instagram hashtags, 3.9 million TikTok views and a yearly average of 325 million Google searches.
Charles IV built the bridge, which is 516 metres long, 9.5 metres wide and 13 metres high, in 1367. For more than six centuries, the bridge has survived occasional flood damage, wheeled traffic and World War II. These days, thousands head here to see the intricate sandstone-carved monuments and remnants of the earlier bridge, which was washed away in the thirteenth century.
17. Tower of Pisa – Pisa, Italy
- Instagram hashtags: 53,824
- TikTok views: 28,500,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 13,500,000
Italy’s renowned leaning tower has accrued a staggering number of TikTok views: 28.5 million in total. It’s also one of the most highly searched attractions in Europe, with 13.5 million google searches.
At over 183 feet tall, the tower is an impressive structure even without its famous lean. Construction began nearly 1,000 years ago in 1173, though work was slow, sporadic and abandoned for decades in between. Engineers completed the project in the 14th century, and there have been countless attempts to try and rectify its tilt.
16. Prague Castle – Prague, Czech Republic
- Instagram hashtags: 593,898
- TikTok views: 2,300,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.0
- Google searches: 30,000,000
With close to 600 thousand Instagram hashtags, 2.3 million TikTok views and 30 million Google searches, the castle is undeniably popular. More than 1.8 million people visit the site every year too, making it one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions.
Founded in the 9th century, Prague castle has been a defiant symbol of the Czech state for more than a thousand years. First the seat of Czech rulers, now the seat of presidents, it’s one of the largest complexes of its kind in the world. The 45-acre landmark encompasses historical palaces, offices, a church, fortifications and gardens.
15. St Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal – Venice, Italy
- Instagram hashtags: 456,155
- TikTok views: 5,402,200
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 458,440,000
Combined, this ravishing site receives one of the highest numbers of Google searches, with over 458,440,000 per year. It’s undeniably Instagrammable too, which explains why the hashtag has over 450,000 tags. Those who have visited, have given the site a 4.5-star rating on Trip Advisor too.
Millions of tourists flock to the iconic St Mark’s Square every year to explore the Basilica of Saint Mark, wander the Halls of Doges Palace and sip spritz on one of the city’s most picturesque squares. It’s the only piazza in the whole of Venice and also its lowest point, floating just 90 cm above sea level. The square sits at the end of the Grand Canal, the city’s main and most-photographed waterway.
14. Neuschwanstein – Schwangau, Germany
- Instagram hashtags: 473,304
- TikTok views: 27,500,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 8,740,000
This fairytale palace, tucked in Bavaria’s forested foothills, is visited by over 6,000 visitors every day. It has 27.5 million TikTok views and more than 8.7 million Google searches every year too, making it one of Germany’s most popular tourist sites.
Between its turrets, towers and mountain views, Neuschwanstein looks like it could’ve been plucked straight out of a fairytale. It’s younger than it looks though, though the gothic aesthetic might fool you. King Ludwig II built the palace in the 1870s, taking inspiration from a medieval castle he grew up in. If it looks familiar, you might have spotted it in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as the evil Baron Bomburst’s castle.
13. The Acropolis – Athens, Greece
- Instagram hashtags: 1,489,376
- TikTok views: 44,900,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 45,000,000
Greece’s most famous monument has captured human imagination for thousands of years. More than one million people visit the landmark every year. It also has an impressive 1.48 million hashtags on Instagram, nearly 45 million TikTok views and a lofty 4.5 Trip Advisor review rating. More than 45 million people Google search the term every year too.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the second half of the fifth century BC by Pericles, an Athenian statesman. The complex includes the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon was thought to be a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, but the Christians later converted it into a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
12. Park Guell – Barcelona, Spain
- Instagram hashtags: 658,878
- TikTok views: 8,400,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.0
- Google searches: 5,130,000
One of the largest green spaces in Spain, Park Guell is one of Antonio Gaudi’s most iconic works. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has amassed 8.4 million TikTok views and is one of the country’s most searched for landmarks, with an average of well over five million searches per year. More than 12 million visitors explore the park every year too.
The renowned architect completed the park just before the outbreak of World War One, though it only opened to the public in 1926. The design is inspired by British residential gardens of the early 19th century and includes elements that can be incorporated into the natural environment. That means no straight lines, but scalloped, curved and slanted edges instead.
11. Vatican City – Rome, Italy
- Instagram hashtags: 863, 178
- TikTok views: 53,800,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 295,000,000
The Vatican City might be the world’s smallest sovereign state, but it’s one of the most popular and visited landmarks on earth. To date, the city has racked up 15.8 million TikTok views, 295 million annual google searches and more than 860 thousand Instagram hashtags.
Overlooking Rome’s historic centre, the city houses some of Europe’s most prized artworks. You can find most of these works in the Vatican Museums, also home to Michelangelo’s masterful Sistine Chapel. St Peter’s Basilica, which sits at the core of the 49 hectare site, is the largest church in the world.
10. Windsor Castle – Windsor, United Kingdom
- Instagram hashtags: 428,033
- TikTok views: 62,100,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 55,100,000
Windsor Castle boasts over 62,100,000 TikTok views, which is more than Versailles and The Louvre combined. Over 55 million people searched for the term Windsor Castle in the past year and over 428,000 used the hashtag on Instagram.
Buckingham Palace in London might be the administrative headquarters of the British monarchy, but Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Its history dates back some 900 years and it is home to the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII. These days, the castle is mostly used for ceremonial and state occasions but visitors are allowed to roam around select areas, including the State Appartments.
9. The Louvre – Paris, France
- Instagram hashtags: 136,261
- TikTok views: 15,100,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 135,000,000
The Louvre is the largest museum in the world, with almost 18 acres of gallery space. It’s no surprise, then, that it makes the list of top tourist attractions in Europe. It has received over 15.1 million TikTok views and at least 135 million google searches every year.
France’s most famous museum is actually built atop an ancient fortress. It became a royal palace in the 16th century, then opened as a public gallery after the French revolution. It holds some of the world’s most prized paintings and sculptures spanning some 11,000 years of civilization and culture. There are so many, in fact, that it would take over 100 days to see all 380,000 works.
8. The Alhambra – Granada, Spain
- Instagram hashtags: 1,792,378
- TikTok views: 46,500,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 68,800,000
With more than 46.5 million TikTok views, close to 1.8 million Instagram hashtags and 68.8 million Google searches, the Alhambra’s popularity is undeniable. Set against the soaring Sierra Nevada, it’s one of Europe’s best-looking spots too.
The renowned castle was built by the Moors in the thirteenth century, atop an old Roman fortress. Ferdinand and Isabella re-captured the site in the late 15th century, but it still looks much the same as it did more than 700 years ago. It’s one of the finest Islamic buildings in Europe, encompassing endless rooms, gardens and opulent halls, including the famous Sala de los Embajadores.
7. Palace of Versailles – Versailles, France
- Instagram hashtags: 184,934
- TikTok views: 19,600,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.0
- Google searches: 19,800,000
The Palace of Versailles has accumulated close to 20 million TikTok views, 19.8 million google searches and nearly 185 thousand Instagram hashtags.
Located 12 miles west of Paris, Versailles is France’s most spectacular chateau. King XIV transformed the former hunting lodge into an elaborate palace in the early 18th century to showcase the absolute power of the monarchy. He eventually moved his court and government here and, despite a long period of languishing during the French Revolution, the palace is just as opulent as it was then.
6. La Grand Place – Brussels, Belgium
- Instagram hashtags: 405,227
- TikTok views: 23,200,000
- Google searches: 2,050,000,000
This UNESCO World Heritage Site has racked up a staggering 2,050 million Google searches, making it the most searched tourist attraction on our list. It has also amassed an immodest 23.2 million TikTok views and more than 405 thousand Instagram hashtags.
Located slap-bang in the centre of Brussels, La Grand Palace is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Most of its enchanting guildhalls were built between 1697 and 1705, though works began as early as the 12th century. At its heart is the 15th-century city hall, adorned with gilded statues and intricate symbols. Events take place here throughout the year, including the city’s most famous Christmas tree and nativity scene.
5. Lake Geneva – Geneva, Switzerland
- Instagram hashtags: 546,268
- TikTok views: 85,600,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 112,000,000
Lake Geneva might not immediately spring to mind when you think of Europe’s most popular tourist sites, but with an average of 112 million Google searches every year it should do. The lake’s popularity extends to social media too, where it has received 85.6 million views on TikTok and nearly 550,000 Instagram hashtags.
With a surface area of more than 580 sq. km, Lake Geneva is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. Around 60% of the lake belongs to Switzerland, while France holds 40%. On its banks are the fairytale Chillon Castle and the iconic Jer d’Eau, a huge fountain that has since become the symbol of the lake and city. It’s a popular spot for swimming too, thanks to its four beautiful beaches and pristine waters.
4. Colosseum and Roman Forum – Rome, Italy
- Instagram hashtags: 2,093,217
- TikTok views: 3,988,400
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 2,683,500,000
Nowhere does Roman ruins quite like the Eternal City, and the Colosseum is one of its best-preserved examples. The pair of ancient ruins have racked up an eye-watering 2,683 million Google searches, nearly four million TikTok views, and well over two million Instagram hashtags combined.
Emperor Vespasian built the amphitheatre around 70 CE. As many as 50,000 guests could be comfortably seated, making it the largest amphitheatre in the world. The nearby Roman Forum, which most people combine with a trip to the Colosseum, was once the centre of daily life in ancient Rome. It encompasses a basilica, temples, churches and the original seat of the Roman senate.
3. Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain
- Instagram hashtags: 2,576,120
- TikTok views: 148,500,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 2,620,000,000
This jaw-dropping temple is one of Spain’s most beloved monuments. It receives around 5 million visitors, more than 55 million annual Google searches and close to a staggering 150 million TikTok views. It’s popular on Instagram too, with over 25,700,000 hashtags.
Located in the centre of the Eixample district in the beating heart of Barcelona, the temple is the work of genius architect Antoni Gaudi. It’s technically unfinished, with works scheduled to be completed in 2026 – a whopping 144 years since it began. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building features 18 soaring towers depicting the life of Jesus and is home to Gaudi’s grave.
2. Big Ben and Westminster Palace – London, United Kingdom
- Instagram hashtags: 3,339,796
- TikTok views: 213,931,400
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 1,550,100,000
The UK capital city’s blockbuster site earns the second spot as Europe’s most popular tourist attraction. The famous landmark received over 1,550 million google searches in the last year, as well as close to 214 million TikTok views. Visitors don’t seem to have left disappointed either, according to its respectable 4.5-star Tripadvisor score.
That’s hardly a surprise though, as landmarks come this is a real showstopper. The palace, which sits prettily on the banks of the River Thames, houses both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Big Ben sits at the north end of the complex. The monumental clock has rung through the reign of seven different monarchs, 42 prime ministers and featured in hundreds of Hollywood movies.
1. Eiffel Tower - Paris, France
- Instagram hashtags: 7,144,496
- TikTok views: 1,200,000,000
- Tripadvisor score: 4.5
- Google searches: 84,400,000
Top billing goes to one of the world’s most recognisable buildings, the Eiffel Tower. The radical structure has racked up the most TikTok views in Europe, with a whopping 1,200 million to date. It’s a popular google term too, with 84.4 million searches yearly.
This iconic monument hasn’t always been popular though. When Gustave Eiffel dreamed up the tower for the 1889 World Fair, hundreds of artists, writers and thinkers sighed a petition to have it removed. Thankfully, the government wasn’t quite as shortsighted and today it’s one of the capital’s crowning glory. Over seven million visitors flock here to get up close to the 985-foot monument.
