About Switzerland

Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It comprises the westernmost part of Eurasia. Since around 1850, Europe is most commonly considered to be separated from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways of the Turkish Straits. Although the term "continent" implies physical geography, the land border is somewhat arbitrary and has moved since its first conception in classical antiquity. The division of Eurasia into two continents reflects East-West cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences, some of which vary on a spectrum rather than with a sharp dividing line. The border does not follow political boundaries, with Turkey, Russia, and Kazakhstan being transcontinental countries. Europe covers about 10,180,000 square kilometers or 2% of the Earth's surface.

Destinations in Europe

Paris: France's capital, is a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The famed Louvre museum houses da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” The Musée d’Orsay has Impressionist works by Monet, Degas and Renoir. On the Seine’s Right Bank, the Montmartre neighborhood is home to Sacré-Coeur Basilica and sweeping hilltop views. In the Marais, nightclubs sit among restored 17th-century mansions. On the Left Bank are the Latin Quarter, bustling with Sorbonne scholars, and the historically bohemian Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The city’s open-air cafes are an institution for casual eating and people-watching. Fine-dining restaurants, bistros, markets, and patisseries reflect other aspects of France's famed culinary heritage.

Rome: Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.

The 18th-century Spanish Steps sit at the heart of Rome’s high-end shopping district, with designer boutiques lining Via Condotti and Via Borgognona. Visitors toss coins into the iconic, baroque Trevi Fountain. The Pantheon, dating to the second century A.D., holds Raphael’s Renaissance-era tomb. Rome’s hearty cuisine includes such traditional dishes as carbonara, amatriciana, and saltimbocca. After-dark activities range from seeing one of Verdi’s classic operas at Teatro dell opera to club-hopping in working-class Testaccio, once the city’s slaughterhouse district.

London: London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its center stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower, and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex and the entire city.

Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th-century St. Paul’s Cathedral towers above ‘The City’, where London’s global Stock Exchange conducts its business. Royal sites include Buckingham Palace, housing the monarch's main residence and offices, and the Tower of London, a former prison that’s home to the Crown Jewels. The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Britain, and Tate Modern explore the local and international history and art. West End theatres present classic and cutting-edge drama. Covent Garden, Soho, and Spitalfields markets are popular dining and shopping areas. Major public spaces include Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park, and Hampstead Heath.

Barcelona: Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró feature modern art by their namesakes. City history museum MUHBA includes several Roman archaeological sites.

Barcelona's medieval roots are seen in the mazelike Gothic Quarter. The bustling central promenade, La Rambla, is lined with cafes. North of La Barceloneta, a neighborhood with a wide beach and seafood restaurants, Parc de la Ciutadella is home to the Zoo Barcelona. Parc Güell is a hilltop garden with colorful Gaudí mosaics and panoramic views. A funicular climbs to the top of Montjuïc, where the Magic Fountain presents light and music shows, and the Palau Nacional displays Catalan art. The culinary scene, anchored by La Boqueria market, ranges from fine dining to tapas bars. Vibrant nightlife can be found in El Born and Eixample.

Florence: Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell'Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

Another architectural highlight is the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone-arch pedestrian bridge that’s packed with jewelry stores. Near the bridge, on the south bank of the Arno River, is massive Palazzo Pitti, once home to the powerful Medici family, showing works by such renowned artists as Raphael and Titian. On the north bank, the Piazza del Signoria is one the city’s most visited squares thanks to the imposing Palazzo Vecchio (the town hall) and the much-photographed statue “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Cellini.

Vienna: Vienna, Austria’s capital, lies in the country’s east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. In the MuseumsQuartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and other artists.

The elegant Ring Road around the Innere Stadt district features government and public buildings including the 18th-century Burgtheater, where the Vienna State Opera presents numerous productions yearly and hosts the annual Vienna Opera Ball, one of a series of glittering city events. The Hofburg Imperial Palace has lavish Habsburg apartments and hosts displays by the Spanish Riding School’s renowned Lipizzaner stallions. A symbol of the city, Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral sports a colorful tile roof. The Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel in the Prater park has far-reaching rooftop views.

Madrid: Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry.

In the 1970s Madrid became the epicenter of La Movida, a burst of expression in the arts. The Prado forms a “Golden Triangle” with the Reina Sofía Museum (home to Picasso’s “Guernica”) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Sunday flea market El Rastro is in the medieval La Latina neighborhood, popular for nightlife, theater and tapas bars. Central square Puerta del Sol houses the statue of the Bear and Strawberry Tree from the city’s coat of arms, while the Museo Arqueológico Nacional displays a vast collection of historic artifacts. Real Madrid, the dominant soccer club, plays at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

İstanbul: Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain. The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.

The Ottoman-era Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) was named for its blue interior tiles. Circa-1460 Topkapı Palace, home to Ottoman sultans until the 19th century, contains royal artifacts and rooms that once comprised a large harem. Nearby is the Spice Market and rambling Grand Bazaar. Spanning the Golden Horn estuary, atmospheric Galata Bridge is a popular fishing spot and leads to the city’s modern heart. The Galata area is known for its medieval tower and upmarket boutiques. Beyoğlu's stylish bars lie south of Taksim Square. The city's eastern, Asian side encompasses residential areas and waterfront districts such as Kadiköy.

Prague: Prague, capital city of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it's known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, which gives an animated hourly show. Completed in 1402, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with statues of Catholic saints.

Rising above the city on a steep hill, 9th-century Prague Castle is now the seat of the Czech president. The castle’s St. Vitus Cathedral includes windows designed by art-nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. The city's former Jewish Quarter is home to the Old-New Synagogue, Europe’s oldest active Jewish house of worship, and the Old Jewish Cemetery, with thousands of vertically stacked graves. New Town's main boulevard is lively Wenceslas Square, where art-nouveau buildings house shops and cafes. Letná Park, with views over Prague’s bridges and red rooftops, has a large beer garden.

Amsterdam: Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths.

Vondelpark has cafes and an open-air theater, and the nearby Royal Concertgebouw is a prominent classical-music venue. In the Jordaan district are shops and galleries, as well as the Anne Frank House, where the Jewish diarist hid during the Second World War. Dining ranges from casually decorated “living room” restaurants to traditional Dutch eateries and Indonesian rijsttafel (“rice table”) specialists. Coffee shops sell small amounts of marijuana. The neon-lit Red Light District is home to the Erotic Museum, exhibiting provocative paintings and prints. In spring, Amsterdam is a base for visits to the surrounding tulip attractions.

Munich: Munich, Bavaria’s capital, is home to centuries-old buildings and numerous museums. The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls, including the famed Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589. In the Altstadt (Old Town), central Marienplatz square contains landmarks such as Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (town hall), with a popular glockenspiel show that chimes and reenacts stories from the 16th century.

Other notable sites include the 12th-century St. Peter’s Church and iconic 15th-century Frauenkirche cathedral, with its twin bell towers. The neoclassical National Theater and the rococo Cuvilliés Theater (in the opulent Residenz palace and museum) host performances by the State Opera and the State Ballet. Highlights of the Museum Quarter include Pinakothek museums exhibiting everything from Old Masters to modern art. Maximilianstrasse offers fashion boutiques and restaurants, and the bustling Viktualienmarkt sells produce, cheese and sausages. The Englischer Garten is a large park popular for sunbathing.

Athens: Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum, along with the National Archaeological Museum, preserves sculptures, vases, jewelry and more from Ancient Greece.

Athens is also a contemporary city, and it’s not uncommon for the nightlife hubs of Kolonaki, Psiri and Gazi to stay busy until dawn. Some areas of the city are pedestrian-only, such as the winding lanes of the Plaka neighborhood, lined with cafes, traditional tavernas and neoclassical houses. Near Syntagma Square, whose Old Royal Palace houses Greece's parliament, is the Ermou shopping boulevard. Here, fashion boutiques mix with stores selling silver and handmade art. The Grand Promenade walkway, created for the 2004 Olympics, circles the Acropolis, passing fabled remains such as the crumbling Ancient Agora of Athens complex.

Budapest: Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is bisected by the River Danube. Its 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest. A funicular runs up Castle Hill to Buda’s Old Town, where the Budapest History Museum traces city life from Roman times onward. Trinity Square is home to 13th-century Matthias Church and the turrets of the Fishermen’s Bastion, which offer sweeping views.

East of the river, Pest’s neo-Gothic Parliament Building houses the Holy Crown of St. Stephen. St. Stephen’s Basilica displays the saint’s right hand. The Dohány Street Synagogue contains a museum, a memorial and a cemetery. Grand boulevard Andrássy Avenue passes the neoclassical Hungarian State Opera House on its way to Heroes’ Square, where statues commemorate the creation of the Hungarian state, and there are 2 art museums. The ornate Széchenyi thermal baths complex in adjoining City Park is one of many in Budapest, and part of an enduring Hungarian mineral bathing tradition.

Berlin: Berlin, Germany’s capital, dates to the 13th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20th-century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification. The city's also known for its art scene and modern landmarks like the gold-colored, swoop-roofed Berliner Philharmonie, built in 1963.

The Tiergarten district, near the Brandenburg Gate, houses a massive park and the 19th-century Reichstag, Germany’s parliament. Museum Island, in the Spree River, features the Neues Museum, with its comprehensive Egyptian collection. Its Pergamon Museum’s archaeological masterpieces include Greek, Roman and Islamic works. Nightlife ranges from Mitte quarter’s hip restaurants and bars to the cavernous techno clubs in the city’s industrial neighborhoods. Shopping includes high-end boutiques along Kurfürstendamm, department stores on bustling Friedrichstraße and vintage shops in bohemian Kreuzberg.

Santorini: Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

Akrotiri, a Bronze Age settlement preserved under ash from the eruption, provides a frozen-in-time glimpse into Minoan life. The ruins of Ancient Thera lie on a dramatic bluff that drops to the sea on 3 sides. Fira, the island's commercial heart, has the Archaeological Museum of Thera and boutique shops. It also has a lively bar scene and tavernas serving local grilled seafood and dry white wine, made from the Assyrtiko grape. Oia is famous for sunsets over its old fortress.

Moscow: Moscow, on the Moskva River in western Russia, is the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. In its historic core is the Kremlin, a complex that’s home to the president and tsarist treasures in the Armoury. Outside its walls is Red Square, Russia's symbolic center. It's home to Lenin’s Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum's comprehensive collection and St. Basil’s Cathedral, known for its colorful, onion-shaped domes.

The Garden Ring district has bars, nightclubs and museums like the Pushkin State Museum, with many Impressionist works, and the State Tretyakov Gallery, specializing in Russian art. Nearby are the Bolshoi Theatre, known for ballet and opera, and Tretyakovsky Proyezd, a street lined with luxury shops. To the north, the Ostankino TV Tower offers panoramic views. Wintertime brings ice-skating to Gorky Park, plus the Russian Winter Festival, featuring music and dance. South of the city center is the open-air architecture museum Kolomenskoye, showcasing a wide range of building types.

Iceland: Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks. Most of the population lives in the capital, Reykjavik, which runs on geothermal power and is home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland’s Viking history.

The city is well known for the late-night clubs and bars in its compact center. Near Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon spa steams in a craggy lava field. The "Golden Circle" tour from Reykjavik encompasses Gullfoss Waterfall, the original Geysir (after which all others are named) and Thingvellir National Park, site of the country’s first parliament, established in 930 A.D. A larger circle, the Route 1 "Ring Road," circumnavigates the country, connecting the inhabited areas. Iceland also offers whale watching, the Northern Lights during winter and unusual delicacies like fermented shark.

Frankfurt: Frankfurt, a central German city on the river Main, is a major financial hub that's home to the European Central Bank. It's the birthplace of famed writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose former home is now the Goethe House Museum. Like much of the city, it was damaged during World War II and later rebuilt. The reconstructed Altstadt (Old Town) is the site of Römerberg, a square that hosts an annual Christmas market.

The Altstadt features a row of traditional half-timbered houses and Gothic Frankfurt Cathedral. The Römer, a trio of medieval patricians' homes, have served as city hall since the early 1400s. The Bankenviertel district is filled with towering skyscrapers. The Zeil, lined with department stores, is the city’s main shopping street. The Sachsenhausen district on the south side of the river is connected to the Altstadt by a pedestrian bridge. It features the Goethe Tower and the Museum Embankment, site of many museums, including the Städel fine art museum and the Deutsches Filmmuseum, dedicated to cinema history.

Vatican City: Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It's home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.

Expansive, colonnaded St. Peter’s Square is the Vatican’s main public area, where crowds gather for papal appearances and to see the colorfully uniformed Swiss Guard. Inside the massive, marble-and-gold St. Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo’s marble Pietà sculpture and Bernini’s bronze altar canopy. Visitors can climb to the top of the church’s dome for panoramic views of Rome or descend to the Grottoes to see tombs of saints, popes and monarchs. The Vatican Gardens take up about half of the city’s 44 hectares and are protected by 16th-century walls, but can be toured with advance arrangements.

Zürich: The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall).

Augustinergasse is a colorful old-world street, known for the carved windows of former merchants’ houses. Shopping boulevard Bahnhofsstrasse is lined with high-end fashion stores and banks. Niederdorf is a popular nightlife area. The 9th-century Fraumünster church houses Marc Chagall's 1970s stained-glass windows, and the Grossmünster’s tower has views of the city, lake and Alps. The Landesmuseum traces Swiss culture over thousands of years. Cabaret Voltaire, a cafe/bar that's still in operation, was the 1916 birthplace of the Dada art movement. Work by modern artists like Alberto Giacometti is on display at the Kunsthaus museum.

Geneva: Geneva is a city in Switzerland that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc. Headquarters of Europe’s United Nations and the Red Cross, it’s a global hub for diplomacy and banking. French influence is widespread, from the language to gastronomy and bohemian districts like Carouge.

A signature site is the Jet d’Eau fountain, which shoots up 140m above Lake Geneva. On the Rhône River’s Left Bank, the cobbled Old Town features the Jardin Anglais’ landscaped Flower Clock, the Reformation bastion St. Pierre Cathedral and cafe-lined square Place du Bourg-de-Four. High-end Swiss watches and chocolate are staples of the city center’s luxury shops. The river's Right Bank is home to parks and museums such as the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, with an expansive collection of European art and archaeological objects. Les Pâquis is a neighborhood with funky bistros, nightclubs and boutiques.

When to Visit

Generally, ideal times to visit Europe are May, June & September, when prices are reasonable. Crowds are then smaller; the weather is typically agreeable during those months as well.

Do I need a visa for Europe?

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

How long do you need in Europe?

We recommend at least 3 days to see major European cities like London, Paris, and Rome. You could easily spend a week in any of these locations without getting bored. Remember there are also tons of interesting day trips from major cities in Europe.

What currency is best to use in Europe?

The Euro is the most common currency, used in Europe. It is used by member nations of the European Union. So if you are planning a trip to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Greece and the countries I can't remember. You only need one currency.

How can I get to Europe?

It is advisable to reach Europe by air first and then cover the rest of Europe by train. There are a few international trains in Europe such as InterCityExpress, TGV, Eurostar, and Thalys. Train ticket prices vary from country to country and also from service to service.