People tend to treat Europe as a singular destination (“I went to Europe this summer!”), but there’s a ton of variety in this relatively small continent—especially when it comes to natural beauty. Within its borders, you’ll find sprawling mountain ranges, glacier-studded lagoons, fields of flowers, and charming towns and castles with backgrounds you’d swear were photoshopped. And we haven’t even gotten to the islands yet.
Here, we’ve rounded up the most beautiful places in Europe—including a couple of towns and castles surrounded by nature—to help inspire your next trip. Whether you want to lounge on a beach in Croatia, go hiking in Romania, visit vineyards in France, or chase the northern lights in Finland, there’s an adventure waiting for you in Europe—and you know it will come with great views. So pack your bags, pack your camera, and get ready for the most gorgeous trip of your life. (We’re already jealous.)
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
