Smart Traveler's Grand Europe: Hidden Gems & Smart Alternatives

A free alternative to expensive observation wheels. Reserve your free entrance ticket online 3 weeks in advance for prime sunset views over the London skyline.

Skip the hours-long queues at the Eiffel Tower and head here instead. The open-air observation deck gives you the best direct view of the Eiffel Tower framed against Paris.

Avoid the commercialized cabaret shows and opt for a cozy, authentic jazz or cabaret lounge in Montmartre or the Latin Quarter for live music and intimate local charm.

Rather than seeking out tiny landmark statues, spend your time soaking in the grand opulent guildhalls and bustling atmosphere of Brussels' central UNESCO square.

Instead of joining the crowds at the harbour edge for a small statue, immerse yourself in one of the world's oldest operating amusement parks with lush gardens and historic rides.

Bypassing the crowded square around the clock tower, visit this hilltop fortress for peaceful park walks, historic basilicas, and unmatched views over the Vltava River.

Located right beside the Colosseum, this expansive archaeological site allows you to walk through the actual heart of ancient Roman civil life with significantly fewer crowds.

Instead of making a long detour just to see a single leaning tower, spend your day touring hilltop villages and tasting local vintages along scenic vineyard routes.

Skip line-ups for kissing the stone and spend your day exploring the extensive castle grounds, arboretum, rock close gardens, and hidden streams.

Located in northern Iceland, this geothermal spa offers mineral-rich warm lagoon waters and stunning volcanic scenery with a much more relaxed atmosphere than southern lagoons.