Europe is one of the world’s most significant continents. Arguably, its nations have contributed more to recent history than any other continent ever before. Because of Europe’s historical contributions, and all of the many nations that make it up, there are naturally a lot of things to see there, from ancient ruins to the oldest universities in the world.

If you are interested in history, then Europe is the place for you. This post will tell you about nine places there that you need to visit at least once in your life.

London

Technically the United Kingdom is no longer a part of Europe, but it is still on the European continent, and many British people still consider themselves to be European. London is one of the most interesting and ancient cities in Europe. It was originally a Roman city, although historians suggest that it may have been settled much earlier than the Roman conquests by early Britons. There are many interesting destinations and sites to see in London, from Buckingham Palace to the Roman wall which runs through the City of London. You can take an official tour through London or walk around on foot.

Cambridge

If you are interested in British history, then Cambridge should be on your list of places to go. According to the experts from LedgerTravels, there’s nowhere better to go than Cambridge if you want an authentic British experience. Cambridge University is one of the oldest universities in England. Some of England’s most interesting writers, academics, and thinkers have studied there, including Sir Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, and Silvia Plath. Cambridge’s Botanic Gardens (which are free for university students but nobody else, unfortunately) are also worth a visit. If you like university towns, then after visiting Cambridge, you should head over to Oxford, home to another of the nation’s oldest universities.

Athens

Athens is another of Europe’s most important cities. In many ways, Athens was the birthplace of democracy. In addition to having a lot of significance as far as philosophy, history, and culture go, Athens is also home to some of Greece's most famous ancient landmarks and temples. There are very few European cities that are quite as historically significant as Athens. If you are intending on visiting, then it is probably a very good idea to take a professional tour, since there is so much to see there that there’s no way you will find it all independently. If you are going to go at it alone, then make sure to read expertly written guides, detailing the city’s best attractions and sites. 

Paris

Many people aren’t aware that Paris is just as ancient as London, although nowhere near as old as Rome. Paris was founded around 259 BC by Celtic tribespeople. While Paris doesn’t have a lot of ancient monuments, it still has some of the best architecture in all of that part of Europe. Paris is a city that should really be seen on foot, and since the center of the city is where most of the interesting sites are, it is easily navigable, and it makes no sense to hire a tour when you can walk around yourself. If you do think that a tour would enhance your visit, however, then by all means book one.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in Europe. It’s also one of the only cities where you can legally walk into a ‘coffee shop’ and buy cannabis over the counter. If you enjoy the consumption of cannabis, then Amsterdam is definitely one of the first places that you should go to. Make sure that if you do go there, that you behave yourself, have manners, and respect the local culture. Amsterdam does have a big problem with rowdy foreign tourists who only go there to smoke cannabis.

Berlin

Berlin is a very interesting city, with a lot of monuments well-worth seeing. Berlin is Germany’s capital and has a lot of historical significance. It is a sprawling city, but nonetheless can be seen on foot. One of the most interesting structures in Berlin from modern history is the Berlin Wall, which still stands intact in places. You can visit the Berlin Wall if you should wish to. You can also see other places from recent history, like buildings connecting to Hitler’s Nazi Party, as well as various war museums.

Hadrian’s Wall

Moving away from cities and on to actual locations that you should go and see, Hadrian’s Wall is certainly one of them. If you do decide to visit the United Kingdom, then Hadrian’s Wall should be at the top of your list of places to see. It is an ancient Roman wall that was built to keep the Scottish out of England since the Romans considered them too difficult to fight. Hadrian’s Wall is a very interesting monument and is largely intact in some places. There are also a few other Roman walls north of Hadrian’s Wall.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is located about an hour’s drive from London. It is one of the oldest monuments in the United Kingdom. Historians believe that it was used for religious rites and rituals. If you are going to visit Stonehenge, then it may also be worth traveling down to Winchester and seeing Winchester Cathedral. Winchester is a very interesting city with a lot of history attached to it. The tickets to get into Winchester Cathedral are very affordable.

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos is arguably one of Portugal’s most important buildings. The church was built in the Manueline style; its interior is regally decorated. Inside the building, you can find tombs of some of Portugal’s most important historical figures, like poets and writers. If you are going to visit, then make sure to see what else Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, has to offer. If you are interested in architecture, then Portugal is definitely somewhere worth visiting, since the nation has some of Europe’s most interesting buildings. There are large swathes of Lisbon and other Portuguese cities that are very old.

There’s so much to see and do in Europe, you couldn’t do it all even in a lifetime. When visiting, make sure to plan your trip carefully so that you can get the most out of it. Many of the places listed in this post can be reached in a day from each other by plane, so if you want a real adventure, why not see them all?