The Top Ten Places to See in Europe

The idea of traveling to Europe is a romantic one. The very thought is filled with excitement, mystery, and adventure. After spending a good deal of time exploring this fascinating continent myself, on various trips over the last seven years, I have concluded a few things about travel to Europe. Among these realizations is the wonderful truth that all the dreams and grand impressions were, at least for me, very true.

Europe is amazing. It has gripped me tightly and has kept me coming back for more. I have my own set of "Must See Cities" or areas that I feel deserve at least one visit during anyone's lifetime, if not many more. Some of these, no doubt, will appear in many other top ten lists, and that alone should qualify their position of importance. A few others may be slightly less spoken of, and these I would never miss. I believe that any well rounded trip to Europe should include the large famous sights and cities; however the time to break away from the hordes of tourists and enjoy the authentic small town life of Europe is equally important. I include the following in my list of "Top Ten Places to See in Europe", with fond wishes of an experience of a lifetime.

Top Ten Cities or Areas (in no specific order):

1. The Italian Riviera

The Cinque Terre (five lands) is a beautiful national park on the coastline of the Italian Riveria in Italy's Liguria region. The five quaint villages that populate the park, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, overlook the Ligurian Sea (part of the northern Mediterranean Sea). The towns are connected by hiking and walking trails (the trails between the southern most towns being the easiest and most family friendly) that follow the coastline or climb into the hills above the towns to sanctuaries.

Each is unique, but they all provide a wonderful small town experience, with just enough restaurants and other amenities to let you feel like you have options to explore and discover. They are connected by train between La Spezia and Genoa, and are an easy reach from Pisa or other parts of Tuscany, as well as the Genoa area.

2. Tuscany and its Hill Towns