Although the pandemic restricted our travel and limited us inside the premises of our house, the idea of traveling and exploring new places once again when it's all over is exciting.  And what's better than visiting a continent of lively cities, distinct landscapes, diverse culture, museums, old castles and cathedrals, the number of historical locations and other attractions, Europe. Visiting every wonderful place in Europe may take months, but here is a sorted list of top five must-visit landmarks in Europe:

1. London, United Kingdom

London, the capital city of England, is a modern and vibrant city with its history dating back to Roman times. It is home to four world heritage sites, including the Tower of London, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, The Palace of Westminster, and Maritime Greenwich. Other landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, St Paul Cathedral, The shard, and so on. Its nook and streets have numerous museums, galleries, libraries, and sporting events like the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern, and West End Theaters.

Picture Credit: Twitter/@kewgardens 

2. Paris, France

Paris, the capital of France, is a historic city with magnificent art, architecture, culture, cuisine, and so on. The first place that comes to mind after hearing Paris is the magnificently standing Eiffel tower. Also, the historical district in the city center is classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site, and popular landmarks there included the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité, now closed for renovation after the 15 April 2019 fire. For the art connoisseur, the city includes various museums with noted Modern, Contemporary, Parisian, and French Impressionist Arts. Some of them are The Pompidou Centre Musée National d'Art Moderne, The Musée Rodin Musée Picasso, The Musée d'Orsay, and many more.

Picture Courtesy: Wikimedia commons

3. Crete, Greece

The birthplace of both the king of the Olympian gods and modern European civilization, Crete is a Mediterranean jewel. The mountainous island with the richness of archaeological and mythological history is reflected in the ancient ruins and remains, including the Palace of Knossos, a bronze age settlement that dates back to 1900BC. Similarly, Mount Ida, the highest point of Crete, along with 30 other summits with height above 2000 Meters, is a sight to see. Mt.ida is also said to be home to a cave where Zeus was born.

Picture Courtesy: ©Vladimir Sklyarov.

4. Rome, Italy

The 11th most visited city in the world, Rome is a perfect blend of history and modernity as it was one of the major centers of the Renaissance. Vatican City, the smallest independent state, has Vatican Palace and gardens, St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's Square, an area ruled by the Pope. The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine, The Pantheon, The Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Centro Storico & the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Palatine hill, Villa Borghese Gallery and Gardens contemplate the magnificent ancient Roman city and its rich history.

PHOTO: Scaliger | Dreamstime.com

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands

If you have read or watched, "The Fault in Our Stars" or read the diary of a young girl, Amsterdam should be on top of the list of places to visit in Europe. The capital of the Netherlands shelters historic canals, houseboats, more than 40 museums, numerous theatres, and so on. The must-see site includes Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the world's only floating flower market, botanical gardens, Vondel park, Dam square, Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Rembrandt House Museum, Old church and New church, Artis: Amsterdam Royal zoo and so on. Honestly, the most interesting of all places here is the Amsterdam cheese museum.

Image by Stanley Chen Xi, landscape and a / Getty Images