10 Places to See in Europe Before You Die

I travel a lot in Europe and Yes, I love Europe!
And especially that last one is the reason I made this lens for all you travelers out there! If you're planning a trip to Europe: Check this post first and remember that I've been to every single place that you'll see here.

#1 Dubrovnik





Dubrovnik Video
This is an excellent video on Dubrovnik. It gives you a live glimpse of one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe.


#2 Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Amsterdam - The Netherlands
So much more than Wooden shoes, coffeeshops and the Red Light District!
Amsterdam, world-renowned for its romantic canals and the imposing architecture of the 17th century, a period often called as the "Golden Century". Amsterdam is the sparkling heart of Holland and will definitely get your blood pumping.

Amsterdam is a party town 365 days a year, with a harmonious co-existence of the historical and the modern, in a melting pot of nationalities that have only further contributed to the city's charms.

Amsterdammers are deservedly proud of their city and the gorgeous centre. Whatever it is you are looking for it can be found here, in a laid-back atmosphere that is exclusive to this monumental metropolis.

Getting Around in Amsterdam
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Trust me, I lived in Amsterdam AND own these Lonely-planets: The only better resource available to you would be me! :-)

Berlin - Germany
All the bullet holes of the world, you can find in Berlin'
The first and second world war, the cold war, the Berlin Wall... Berlin IS Europe's history of the 20th century. You see and feel it everywhere you go.
But what you see and feel too is a reborn cultural capital of Europe. Go there and experience the history, the culture, the people, the parties, the laid back atmosphere... Berlin is more than even the 'Berliners' themselves would expect!

Berlin Cityscape(from Wikipedia.org)

The city's appearance today is predominantly shaped by the key role it played in Germany's history in the 20th century. Each of the national governments based in Berlin-the 1871 German Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East Germany, and now the reunified Germany-initiated ambitious construction programs, each with its own distinctive character. Berlin was devastated by bombing raids during World War II and many of the old buildings that escaped the bombs were eradicated in the 1950s and 1960s in both West and East. Much of this destruction was initiated by municipal architecture programs to build new residential or business quarters and main roads. Berlin's unique recent history has left the city with an eclectic array of architecture and sights.

In the eastern part, many Plattenbauten can be found, reminders of Eastern Bloc ambitions to create complete residential areas with fixed ratios of shops, kindergartens and schools. Another difference between former east and west is in the design of little red and green men on pedestrian crossing lights (Ampelmännchen in German); the eastern versions received an opt-out during the standardization of road traffic signs after reunification. The eastern Ampelmännchen design is now used in the western part of the city as well.

Picture: Branderburger Tor
The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is a former city gate and the symbol of Berlin, Germany. It is located between the Pariser Platz and the Platz des 18. März and is the only remaining gate of a series through which one formerly entered Berlin. One block to its north lies the Reichstag. It constitutes the monumental termination of Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of Lime trees which led directly to the royal residence. It was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791.

Getting around in Berlin
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Inside advice: Rent a bike to get around Berlin! You'll see everything in this biker-friendly city at your own pace!

Switzerland - See everything!
(It's a small country)



Getting around in Switzerland
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Personal tip for getting around in Switzerland in summer: Rent a convertible! Inhale the fresh mountain air while cruising over gorgeous mountain roads and pass by beautiful lakes!

The Plitvice Lakes - Croatia
If God would have had Photoshop...
Or did he? Visit the Plitvice lakes and waterfalls and experience every color nature has to offer in every glance!

Plitvice National Park in Croatia is considered to be one of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe. Due to its natural beauty and significance, this system of 16 interlinked lakes and a large forest complex around it were set aside as a national park in 1949. In 1979 the park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The sixteen lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains, descending from an altitude of 636 m to 503 m over a distance of some 8 km, aligned in a south-north direction.

The lakes are separated by natural dams of travertine, which is deposited by the action of moss, algae and bacteria. The encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of each other, forming travertine barriers which grow at the rate of about 1 cm per year.

The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.



Plitvice Lakes


Getting around in Plitvice and Croatia
Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Backpackers: Take the bus (cheap!) all along the cost roads (incredibly beautiful!) and make a detour to the inlands to hike through Plitvice park!
Little more budget? Rent a car but don't drive south on saturdays: Thousands of locals will do the same with you...

Rome


Rome - Italy
Capital of the World
Rome, capital of the world, the Eternal City, the city of the seven hills or simply the City: enough reasons to visit and get impressed by the many, many, many historical sights... Smell ancient Rome in the middle of this cosmopolitan-crazy Italian capital.

The old 'capital of the world' is thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan. As one of the few major European cities that escaped World War II relatively unscathed, central Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character. The Historic Centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Situated on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today the metropolitan area is home to around 3.3 million people.

Don't forget to stop by the most iconic image of Rome, the Colosseum. This is where gladiator games and public spectacles were held for free. These games were brutal, with gladiators fighting each other until death. Gladiators were also at times forced to fight animals such as lions.
Pictures of Rome




Getting around in Rome Lonely Planet: My favourite travel-resource! (And I'm not alone it seems...)
Get your kicks on route sixty...ehm... do like the locals, rent a Scooter and experience Rome from your trendy Aprillia with the sun on your face!

Greece - Meteora
Imagine buildings on top of huge mountain rocks. This is exactly what Meteora is

Meteora means suspended in air. Hermit Byzantine monks in the ninth century first inhbited these mountains, living on fissures and caves along the rocks to spend time with God. In the 14th century, these hermit monks built 20 different monastaries to get away from Turkish occupation. The tall cliffs were the perfect escape for these monks. At first only ladders and ropes were the only way to reach these monestaries. During the 1920s steps were carved out making it more accessible. Today only six monestaries remain.

Best times to go May and June, it has the most comfortable weather. Acquaint yourself with Greek Orthodoxy to get the most enjoyment.

How to go: use buses from Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Trikala, and Athens. Lots of lodging options in Kalampaka at the base of Meteora.
Meteora pictures



Meteora Video


Been there? Going there? Let us know!
And share your experiences with us!