If you want a glorious holiday but you don’t want to waste all your annual leave on it, it’s best to choose a palace where you can see as much as possible in a short amount of time. With this problem in mind, Emerald Cruises has compiled a list of Europe’s most walkable destinations with the highest number of attractions in a short amount of time.
From discovering hidden gems to strolling through iconic landmarks, the findings offer a fresh perspective on Europe’s top cities. Coming in at the top of the list is Barcelona in Spain. Not only are its landmarks a mere stroll apart, Brits can enjoy plenty of sunshine amid 19C temperatures – neatly avoiding the city’s bracing summer heat and crowds.
The Met Office says: “For some, Barcelona can be a good Easter holiday destination as you can expect plenty of warm sunshine without the strongest heat of the summer months. Sea temperatures of around 15°C are still rather chilly though.”
With the sun shining on your face, this gorgeous city offers three incredible landmarks within its centre.
The first of these is the unmissable Basílica de la Sagrada Família. Designed by the famed Catalonian architect Antoni Gaudí, it’s the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Status.
From there you can check out the Placa de Gaudi – originally created as the Sagrada Familia’s garden, this picturesque square surrounded by lush greenery offers impressive views of the basilica.
Finally, there’s Montjuïc Castle, a former military fortress built in 1640, offering a historical dive into the cities’ rich past and wonderful panoramic views of the city.
It’s not just Barcelona that’s ripe for exploration. Second on the list is Istanbul, which is a fascinating place with a rich history.
Here you can visit the Basilica Cistern – the largest of the many ancient underground cisterns hidden beneath the Turkish capital’s streets, offering a fascinating glimpse into the world of Byzantine Constantinople, or stroll through Beyazit Square: officially named ‘Freedom square’.
The square brings visitors into the heart of Istanbul’s history, with the grand Bayezid II Mosque standing impressively at its perimeter.
The final attraction on the list is slightly trickier to locate, but worth the work. It, or rather he, is The Boulder – a chubby street dog who has risen to fame as Istanbul’s top tourist attraction.
‘The Boulder’ lives in a neighbourhood near the Şişhane metro stop on the European side of the city.
Many people have stumbled across the dog and have now even made him a location on google maps, who is of course now the highest rated in the city.
