There’s no denying that Europe, filled will blindingly blue waters, trendy avenues, quaint corners and ornate churches, is one of the most picturesque places in the world. It gets under your skin – and many discerning travellers won’t go anywhere else. Whether you prefer glittering cityscapes or stone villages, hotel hotspots or dramatic doorways, here are the most Instagrammable places in Europe you can’t help but photograph:
1. For that bucket list photograph: San Gimignano, Italy
Rise above the ordinary in San Gimignano, Tuscany’s medieval Manhattan, where 14 stone towers create a skyline that has captivated travelers for centuries. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers more than just spectacular views—wander through narrow cobblestone streets lined with artisanal gelaterias, sip award-winning Vernaccia wine, and lose yourself in Renaissance frescoes at the Collegiate Church. For accommodations that match the town’s timeless elegance, choose between the 13th-century restored Castello di Gargonza with its panoramic countryside views, the intimate Palazzo Tiglio nestled within the historic walls, or the refined Villa le Barone, where Tuscan gardens and noble heritage create an unforgettable retreat.
2. For heartstopping country landscapes: Dunquin Pear, Ireland
At Ireland’s westernmost edge, Dunquin Pier descends dramatically to the wild Atlantic in a zigzagging path that seems designed by nature for perfect photographs. This remote haven on the Dingle Peninsula offers soul-stirring views of the Blasket Islands rising from misty waters, while emerald hills dotted with grazing sheep create a quintessentially Irish panorama. Visit at sunset when golden light transforms the rugged coastline into a scene of otherworldly beauty. Just a scenic drive away, the distinguished Gregans Castle Hotel provides an elegant sanctuary amid the lunar-like landscape of the Burren. This 18th-century manor house combines contemporary luxury with historic charm, featuring award-winning cuisine crafted from local ingredients and gardens that frame views across Galway Bay to the Connemara hills.
3. For designer digs and vibrant street snaps: Lisbon, Portugal
What is it that makes a city ‘Instagrammable’, exactly? Take Lisbon: it’s got the perfect blend of cobblestone streets bursting with colour, medieval viewpoints such as São Jorge Castle, serene gardens, perfectly green parks and river views galore. If you’re getting snap-happy in Portuguese perfection, you’ll find Heritage Avenida Liberdade hard to resist. The award-winning 18th-century building-turned-hotel is a design buff’s paradise, embellished by the same architect who designed Buddha Bar in Paris, Man Ray in New York and Strictly Hush in London.
4. For sunsets from heaven: Santorini, Greece
One of the most Instagrammable places in Greece (and arguably Europe as a whole) is lovely, lazy Santorini. It feels like sunsets were designed here: where sky meets sea and sea meets rugged cliffs, this is the Mediterranean at its most mesmerising. Beyond the famous vistas, discover black sand beaches, ancient ruins at Akrotiri, and wineries producing exceptional vintages from volcanic soil. For accommodations that maximize the island’s breathtaking beauty, consider the cliffside Hotel Aigialos with its traditional Cycladic architecture and panoramic caldera views, the intimate Esperas Santorini carved into the volcanic rock, or the luxurious Villa Santa Croce where private terraces frame the Aegean’s azure expanse in perfect serenity.
5. For brilliant bays and brooding mountains: Kotor, Montenegro
Often overlooked for its more famous European counterparts, Kotor is stuffed with obligatory photo opportunities. Even better, its under-radar charm means it’s less likely a tourist will step in front of your Pinterest-perfect mountain photo. The destination has a mesmerising history: submerge yourself in it by making Hotel Cattaro (made up of a city guard tower, Prince’s palace and Napoleon’s theatre) your historic base. With glittering straights and the brain-meltingly beautiful Bay of Kotor right on your doorstep, you’ll be struggling for words – so get clicking.
6. For coastal bliss and architectural gold: Lovran & Opatia Croatia
Time-reversing villages, sensational seafood and hundreds of astonishingly clean stretches of sand – Croatia has Instagram opportunities in bucketloads. Discover the twin jewels of Croatia’s Kvarner Bay, where Belle Époque grandeur meets the shimmering Adriatic. Lovran charms with its medieval core and seaside promenade lined with chestnut trees, while neighboring Opatija dazzles with Habsburg-era villas and manicured gardens. The 12km Lungomare coastal path connecting these historic towns offers spectacular sea views framed by Mount Učka’s dramatic silhouette. In Lovran, the meticulously restored Hotel Villa Astra welcomes guests with art nouveau splendor and a private beach, while Opatija presents elegant options in the seafront Hotel Milenij with its award-winning spa and the boutique Hotel Agava, housed in a 19th-century villa where Viennese aristocracy once summered in style.