Europe Snapshots

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Sarajevo University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo by Irrmam. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Sarajevo Fun Fact: A fun fact about Sarajevo is it is often called the “Jerusalem of Europe” because it’s one of the few cities in the world where you can find a mosque, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, and a synagogue all within the same neighborhood! This mix of religious sites highlights Sarajevo’s long history as a cultural crossroads and symbol of coexistence.

You can book your Bosnia and Herzegovina tours at Viator.com.

Kotor, Montenegro

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Kotor town in Montenegro. Photo by Ggia. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Kotor Fun Fact: A fun fact about Kotor is it’s one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Adriatic coast, with a fortified old town that dates back over 2,000 years! Its winding, narrow streets and hidden alleys are designed like a maze to confuse invaders, making it much harder for enemies to navigate the town. Today, it’s a charming feature that visitors enjoy getting “lost” in while exploring.

You can book your Montenegro tours at Viator.com.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Ljubljana city in Slovenia. Photo by Jorge Cancela. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Ljubljana Fun Fact: A fun fact about Ljubljana is that it’s one of the greenest capitals in Europe! Almost three-quarters of the city’s surface is covered in green spaces, including parks and forests. In fact, in 2016, Ljubljana was named the European Green Capital, thanks to its dedication to environmental sustainability and the pedestrianization of its city center, where cars are mostly banned.

You can book your Slovenia tours at Viator.com.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Dubrovnik city in Croatia. Photo by Michael Gwyther-Jones. This photo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

Dubrovnik Fun Fact: Dubrovnik was one of the first medieval cities to have a quarantine system! In the 14th century, Dubrovnik, then known as the Republic of Ragusa, set up a quarantine law in 1377 to prevent the spread of the plague. They established quarantine zones on nearby islands where travelers had to stay before entering the city. This system helped keep Dubrovnik safe and is one of the earliest examples of public health measures in Europe.

You can book your Croatia tours at Viator.com.

Drvengrad, Serbia

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Drvengrad in Serbia. Photo by White Writer. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Drvengrad Fun Fact: Drvengrad, also known as “Timber Town” or “Küstendorf,” is a traditional village built by the Serbian film director Emir Kusturica. He designed it for his film Life Is a Miracle in 2004 and wanted it to be a place where art and culture could thrive. A fun fact is that the streets are named after famous artists and activists—like the Federico Fellini Street and Che Guevara Square—making the whole village a tribute to influential thinkers and creatives.

You can book your Serbia tours at Viator.com.

Santorini Island, Greece

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Santorini island in Greece. Photo by Wladyslaw. This photo is licensed under the Free Art License.

Santorini Fun Fact: One fun fact about Santorini is that it’s the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history! Known as the Minoan eruption, this massive volcanic event around 1600 BCE is thought to have created the island’s iconic caldera and may have even contributed to the legend of Atlantis. The eruption reshaped the island, leaving behind dramatic cliffs, rich volcanic soil, and breathtaking views.

You can book your Greece tours at Viator.com.

Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria

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Seven Rila Lakes in Rila Mountain, Bulgaria. Photo by Untravelled. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Seven Rila Lakes Fun Fact: A fun fact about the Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria is that each lake has its own unique name based on its shape or characteristic. For example, the highest lake is called Salzata (meaning “The Tear”) because of its clear waters, while Babreka (“The Kidney”) is named for its distinct kidney shape. These lakes are glacial, nestled in the Rila Mountains, and are beautifully arranged like a cascading staircase!

You can book your Bulgaria tours at Viator.com.

Sibiu, Romania

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Sibiu town in Romania. Photo by Andrei Kokelburg. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Sibiu Fun Fact: A fun fact about Sibiu, Romania, is that it’s famous for its “eyes”! Many of the old houses in Sibiu have unique, small, eyelid-shaped windows on their roofs, making it look like the buildings are watching you. These “eyes” originally served as ventilation for attics where food was stored, but they’ve since become an iconic and somewhat eerie feature of the city.

You can book your Romania tours at Viator.com.

Vilnius, Lithuania

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Vilnius Cathedral in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo by Radek Kucharski. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Vilnius Cathedral Fun Fact: A fun fact about Vilnius Cathedral in Lithuania is that it has a “magic” tile! Outside the cathedral, there’s a tile in Cathedral Square marked with the word “Stebuklas,” which means “miracle” in Lithuanian. Local legend says that if you stand on the tile, make a wish, and spin around three times, your wish will come true! This tile also marks the endpoint of the 1989 Baltic Way, a 600-kilometer-long human chain that stretched across the Baltics to protest Soviet occupation.

You can book your Lithuania tours at Viator.com.

Pilsrundale, Latvia

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Rundale Palace in Pilsrundale, Latvia. Photo by Tiago Fioreze. This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Rundale Palace Fun Fact: A fun fact about Rundale Palace in Latvia is that it was designed by the same architect who created the famous Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia—Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Rundale Palace is a stunning example of Baroque and Rococo architecture, often called the “Versailles of Latvia” because of its opulence and beautiful gardens. It was originally built as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland, Ernst Johann von Biron, in the 18th century!

You can book your Latvia tours at Viator.com.