We’re lucky to have some of the world’s most mesmerising, distinctive and vibrant buildings throughout Europe. With architects doing their thing for thousands of years, we have a lot to show.
Tourists are constantly whipping their phones or fancy cameras outright in the centre of the road to take pictures of these astonishing sights.
Whether it’s a skyscraper, a cathedral with ever so pretty glass stained windows or even just a tiny, quirky house in the middle of nowhere, the more colourful, the better is our motto!
You can visit many of these sites – plus so many more – on a fantastic multi-day, hop-on, hop-off coach tour of Europe.
Anything by Gaudi, Barcelona
Antoni Gaudi gave vibrancy to a city already loaded with the stuff. In Barcelona, if you wander along Passeig De Gracia, you’ll be amazed when you stumble upon not one, but two of these works both on the same road – Casa Batllo and Casa Mila.
These two buildings have rooftops and surfaces decorated with multi-colour. His other works include ‘La Sagrada Familia’, an unfinished Basilica but well on the way.
A bit further out of Barcelona’s city centre, you’ll find Park Guell, a very large park that Gaudi helped create.
St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
St Basil’s is a symbol of Russia itself. The colours reflecting off its iconic roofing have been captured in paintings and photographs for centuries.
It’s also the centre of many bizarre and fascinating stories that blend history with legend. Tsar Ivan the Terrible asked it to be built following his victory against Kazan Khanate in 1555 up until 1561.
There are ten domes in total, all unique in their own right and look like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s said that St Basil’s has more names than it does onion domes and that Ivan blinded its architect after its completion.
The Natural History Museum, London
Ok, so I’m being a little selfish with this one. But since I was a child, I’ve always loved the beautiful Hintz Hall that houses London’s Natural History Museum.
The sapphire blue details match so perfectly with the yellow brickwork in a way that expresses the grandeur captured by the museum itself.
Before heading straight for the dinosaur exhibit, take some time in this magnificent architectural work. And don’t forget, it looks just as beautiful on the outside as it does on the inside.
Muralla Roja, Alicante
Ricardo Bofill built a great variety of buildings with his own unique twist. One of his most famous is one admired greatly by Instagrammers for its clever use of the colour pink.
Muralla Roja was built in 1968 in Calp, Alicante, as a postmodern set of flats, all of which are individual in their own ways. Nowadays, though many occupy the flats, tenants can expect visitors throughout the year who take photos of the fascinating building.
Our Lord In The Attic, Amsterdam
Tucked away in the middle of the city centre of Amsterdam, you’ll find this church/museum and tiny canal house, Our Lord in The Attic, which is slightly different from your everyday church.
This building looks like any old house, but as you enter, you’re faced with a bright pink tinge that surrounds the building. Even the altar is pink.
For a little bit of a change to a classic Amsterdam trip, visit this mysterious place with exceptional interiors. They even decided to build a museum within.
Harpa Concert Hall, Iceland
If you’re ever in Iceland or Scandinavia, there are lots of sights to see out in nature, including the Northern lights, geysers, glaciers and wild animals.
However, in some places, man’s achievements are equally impressive. The Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík is a piece of architectural grandeur that literally reflects colour on the water.
It’s made of glass with a honeycomb effect and is visited by many each year for the music and gorgeous views.
If you’d like to see some of London’s most stunning buildings in person, make sure you check out our day tours of the city’s key sites. You’ll get to see the best of the capital, including crucial sites like St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Our London in one day tour hits them all in one go.
