The 10 most beautiful places in Europe

updated 3/13/2019

To celebrate publication of the new Rough Guide to First-Time Europe, we took to Facebook and Twitter to ask our followers to vote for the most beautiful places in Europe.

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10. Iceland
9. France
8. Spain
7. Norway
6. Italy
5. Slovenia
4. Greece
3. Wales
2. Switzerland
1. Croatia

After much debate, it was whittled it down to the top ten. These are the most beautiful places in Europe – as chosen by you.

10. Iceland

Exploring the Land of Fire and Ice can sometimes feel like visiting another planet. Iceland's landscapes are impressively varied and will often leave you speechless. Pictured below are the craters of Laki that sit beneath a mountain of the same name within Vatnajökull National Park.

9. France

From snow-encrusted alps ripe for skiing to pretty cities perfect for exploring on foot – not to mention a vast and varied coastline with historic beaches and glitzy resorts – France has it all. Below is the sweeping Ostriconi beach on the French island of Corsica.

8. Spain

From the country's mesmerising landscapes to its delicious food, Spain has beauty all over. Head to Castilla y Léon, one of our top destinations for 2016, to enjoy traditional Spanish culture at its most authentic, or to the Pyrenees for stunning views. Below is the charming city of Granada.

© Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock

7. Norway

This picture of Isfjorden in Svalbard validates all our Twitter followers who chose Norway as the most beautiful place in Europe. There's beauty all around here, from skies where the aurora borealis dance above at night, to seas that teem with marine life.

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6. Italy

This boot-shaped country has a lot to offer: idyllic islands, peaceful lakes and gorgeous mountains. The below photograph is of San Leo in Emilia-Romagna, visual proof that this nation belongs in a list of the most beautiful places in Europe.

5. Slovenia

A small nation, sandwiched between Croatia and Italy, Slovenia is often overlooked thanks to its increasingly popular neighbours. But that's not because it isn't beautiful. There are gorgeous alpine mountains, pretty little beaches and gorgeous rolling hills dotted with vineyards. Below is the much-photographed Lake Bled.

Pixabay

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4. Greece

From ancient ruins to beautiful beaches, Greece has manmade and natural beauty aplenty. Head to Metéora for an otherworldly rock-climbing experience, or island hop your way around the gorgeous Aegean to pretty little beaches like this one on Mykonos.

3. Wales

You voted Wales one of the most beautiful countries in the world, so it was bound to also turn up here. Rough Guides Twitter follower Kerstin voted for Wales because of its gorgeous sunsets, and who could say no to this one near Llandanwg, on the Cambrian Coast?

2. Switzerland

This small but special country full of alpine peaks and tumbling valleys is a sight to behold in both winter and summer. Pictured below is Switzerland's impressive Matterhorn, one of the world's most challenging mountain climbs.

1. Croatia

Consistently one of the most popular destinations on RoughGuides.com, it's no surprise that Croatia featured heavily in our followers' comments on the most beautiful places in Europe. From gorgeous islands like Hvar to little coves like this one below (Trsteno, Dubrovnik), Croatia has some serious Adriatic eye-candy.

Explore more of Europe with our Rough Guide to First-Time Europe. Compare flights, find tours, book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before you go.