When you think about top European destinations, what are the first places that spring to mind? Whether it’s London, Paris or Rome I am sure there are plenty of spots that we can all agree on being iconic European hotspots. If you need a reminder or perhaps just want to admire some gorgeous images of Europe along with finding a few hidden gems along the way, keep reading!
Top European Destinations on Instagram
Rather than giving you a typical ‘Guide To…’ we wanted to incorporate something a little different with this post and focus on Instagram pictures to tell a story about why you should consider visiting some of the following top European destinations.
From Paris to London plus a few hidden gems ‘off the beaten path’, Instagram is a great way to depict these beautiful, historic destinations around Europe. Whether they are original images or perhaps a hint of filter thrown in there to emphasize the rich composition of these gorgeous landscapes, as travel bloggers we are focused on promoting the inherent beauty within the location.
We are delighted to collaborate with some of our favorite travel blogging friends from around the world and after seeing this selection of breathtaking Instagram images…well, we are sure you will be booking a trip to Europe sooner than you planned!
London
Words will never do a city like London justice, so I think it’s only fair to let the pictures do the talking. There are some skylines and iconic panoramas around the world that you can never get tired of staring at, and all of London’s typical iconography certainly falls into that category.
Whether it’s the sight of Big Ben with a historic red, London bus passing by, or the Houses of Parliament standing proudly by the Thames River, this gorgeous European city will always attract visitors from all corners of the globe at all times of the year (I always emphasize there is really no high season or low season in London, especially when you think about the typical British weather…come rain or shine, London will always shine!)
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite Instagram pics of London!
Hello London! #westminsterchapel #england #unitedkingdom #uk #london #phonebooth #phonebooths #londonphonebooth #londoncab #londoncars #londonlive #londonlife #londonlifestyle #europa #europe #Grammasters3
A photo posted by KarolinaPatryk Blog (@karolinapatrykcom) on
Nov 17, 2015 at 4:10am PST
“London doesn’t need any explanation. It’s one of the best cities in the world, the capital of United Kingdom. On the above picture, you can see two of London’s symbols: the black cab and red phone booth.” – Karolina and Patryk from Karolinapatryk.com
Gorgeous sunset overlooking St Pauls in London. Make your way to the roof terrace of One New Change shopping centre to capture views of London. Head over around 4:30pm this afternoon for a 5:18pm sunset, as the weather is great today!
A photo posted by Lies Veldeman (@nonstopdestination) on
Feb 17, 2015 at 6:16am PST
Absolutely amazing sunny day in London today – great to walk and boat along the Thames to see Tower Bridge
A photo posted by Philatravelgirl (@philatravelgirl) on
Jun 25, 2014 at 7:35am PDT
“A sunny day in June with my 11-year old niece, I was showing her how to frame a photo and look for a different angle. This was my example of Tower Bridge in London – adding layers to the photo.” – Suzanne Wolko from Philatravelgirl.com
Royal Albert Hall is just as beautiful inside as outside. We loved our tour and especially seeing the Royal box. Part of the @londonpass #londonpass #england #architecture #travel #history #europe #classy #royal #sky #tour #albert
A photo posted by Chris & Heather Boothman (@abritandasoutherner) on
Dec 2, 2015 at 8:07am PST
Paris
If you thought that London is iconic in terms of top European destinations, perhaps Paris is as popular especially when you think of those idyllic landscapes with the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees. That’s before I mention those quirky yet quaint shots of locals sampling the finest baguettes in the hidden realms of the Parisian arrondissements.
Here are a few of our favorite images from Instagram and their accompanying stories.
I think it's time for me to pay Paris another visit. #travel #europe
A photo posted by Lies Veldeman (@nonstopdestination) on
Nov 8, 2014 at 6:47am PST
The spiral staircase inside the pyramid at the Louvre
A photo posted by Philatravelgirl (@philatravelgirl) on
Jun 20, 2014 at 1:17pm PDT
“Inside the Louvre, the spiral staircase to the glass pyramid is an example of stunning architecture – it’s one of my favorite pieces of art before even stepping into the galleries. It’s a new art that ushers you into the historic art of the world.” – Suzanne Wolko from Philatravelgirl.com
Photo 2 in theme week (can you guess the theme yet?) This is the lovely Sacre Coeur in the Montmartre area of Paris. If you can manage to attend a service there we highly recommend it. The acoustic are incredible and made for one super memorable experience.
A photo posted by Mick & Jen (@thetrustedtraveller) on
Jan 11, 2016 at 9:45pm PST
“We highly recommend attending a service at this beautiful church. It’s a truly spiritual experience and the acoustics which the choir starts up are the best we’ve ever heard.” – Jen Seligmann from The Trusted Traveller
As dusk falls over the Louvre one last person makes their way through the building #travel #ttot #photography #instalocal #instalike #instatravel #instadaily #instamood #instagood #traveladdict #traveldaily #travelgram #iglove #igersoftheday #igers #igtravel #igaddict #igdaily #igmasters #igmood #twilight #stairs #paris #france #francetravel #parisjetaime #picoftheday #photooftheday #louvre #museum
A photo posted by frugalfirstclasstravel (@frugalfirstclasstravel) on
Oct 26, 2015 at 12:29am PDT
“When the Louvre closes, there is a separate little entrance to the Pyramid just beside the main entrance. Go in, and there is a mezzanine platform where you can stand and watch the Museum closing down in the twilight – Magic.” – Jo Karnaghan from Frugal First Class Travel
Barcelona
Having spent a couple of days in Barcelona and literally falling in love with this city, we would encourage everyone to take some time and book a trip here! If the rest of Spain is half as beautiful as Barcelona, I can certainly understand why this is such a popular nation for tourism.
Exploring #barcelona today. What a beautiful architectural masterpiece. #sharebarcelona #travel @visitbarcelona
A photo posted by Chris & Heather Boothman (@abritandasoutherner) on
Apr 28, 2015 at 1:57pm PDT
Whether you are a Gaudi aficionado or perhaps you want to take a trip to watch Lionel Messi et al. at the Nou Camp, Barcelona is a cultural melting pot waiting to be explored.
Stunning views over @visitbarcelona from Park Guell! #travel #architecture #history #sharebarcelona
A photo posted by Chris & Heather Boothman (@abritandasoutherner) on
Apr 28, 2015 at 7:15am PDT
Gaudi’s influence is apparent throughout Barcelona and in many ways, his iconography here is more apparent than any other designer. Rome may have Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, but the works of Gaudi are so vibrant and prevalent that you can’t help but notice his works pretty much everywhere you walk.
Funky staircase at my hotel in Barcelona. Gaudi influences appear all over the city. Do you have a favorite staircase? Where?
A photo posted by Charles McCool (@charlesmccool) on
Dec 28, 2015 at 5:24pm PST
I mentioned earlier that Paris’s quirky streets were a popular spot, especially for the locals but of course, Barcelona’s medieval neighborhood is also quaint and attractive. As you stroll around this part of the city, it’s just a great experience to explore the quaint alleys and cobblestone streets.
Barcelona is quickly becoming one of our favorite cities especially after wandering the medieval part of the city! #travel @visitbarcelona #sharebarcelona
A photo posted by Chris & Heather Boothman (@abritandasoutherner) on
Apr 29, 2015 at 10:28am PDT
Prague
24 hours in Prague…that’s all we had during our recent European adventure! But one thing is for sure, we loved our experiences there and can’t wait to book a return trip to the Czech capital. History, culture, awesome cuisine and a hint of quirkiness thrown in the mix make Prague an attractive destination.
Here are some of our favorite images from Prague along with some of our friends’ top picks. Are you ready to head to the Czech Republic?
Sunset over Charles Bridge in Prague this afternoon. Just got here from Budapest, so happy to be back in our favorite city in the entire world for a whole month! www.justapack.com Join us as we travel and photograph our way around the world #travel #prague #czechrepublic #sunsets #sun #sunset #thelove_of_sunsets #sunsetlovers #landscapes #travelstoke #wanderlust #landscape #travel_captures #super_europe #ig_europe #ig_avellino #igscglobal #igs_world #bbctravel #architecture
A photo posted by Just A Pack (@justapack1) on
Sep 1, 2015 at 10:48am PDT
Photo Theme: #Bridges – #CharlesBridge, #Prague
A photo posted by Mick & Jen (@thetrustedtraveller) on
Feb 4, 2016 at 10:53pm PST
“The best time to enjoy this mystical looking bridge without the crowds is as the sun comes up.” – Jen Seligmann from The Trusted Traveller
When people tell you visit the castle in Prague what they should say is "hey go and visit the castle COMPLEX" because it's definitely not a castle. However, inside the castle complex is one of the most gorgeous cathedrals I have ever seen, inside and out, it makes up for the lie <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72x72/1f492.png" alt="