Europe truly lacks breathtaking beauty.
But how does one choose their best seats?

On the one hand, it houses seven wonders of the world as well as 34 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and even that just scratches the surface of the incredible things that can be found on the continent.

Here are the most beautiful places in Europe – selected by the experts of Time-Out Magazine.

Norwegian Fjords

Fjords exist only in a few countries, and Norway is home to the longest, deepest, and most spectacular ones. These cave-like bays stretch from the Norwegian Sea all along the country's coastline and boast a landscape that will visibly take your breath away.

Particularly idyllic is the Nordang Valley, where you can find locals freshly coming from the sauna near the village of Oie diving into the ice-blue water (regardless of the weather). And when all the roaring waterfalls and forested mountains become too dull, there are a few surprisingly lively small towns in the fjords: Stavanger and Bergen, for example, are ideal starting points for exploring the region.

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not short of beautiful places, but surpassing the charm of Jajce is actually impossible. Particularly impressive are the magnificent 22-meter high Pliva Waterfalls, which create a spectacular sight. They are framed by the emerging town and crowned by a fortress that plays a significant role in the long and historically rich history of the country.

The Pliva Lake and its beautiful mills are located just outside the city, while the collection of Ottoman architecture, Christian churches and monasteries, mysterious catacombs, and Yugoslav history showcases Bosnia and Herzegovina at its absolute best.

Xerocambos Beach, Greece

The beach of Xerocambos in Crete features the longest coastline in the Mediterranean and around 6,000 stunning islands, making beautiful beaches quite the norm here.

Nevertheless, the silky sandy beaches of Xerocambos, lined with crystal-clear water, are something special in the wilder, less visited southeastern part of the island of Crete. This magnificent beach is away from the beaten path. To get there, one must follow winding roads from the town of Sitia to the traditional mountain village of Armeni. From here, the road – considered one of the most adventurous in Greece – winds like a licorice spiral along the dizzying edge of a deep gorge, leading down to nearly deserted bays far below. But: It’s worth it!

Alberta Street, Riga, Latvia

This quiet street in the center of Riga is one of the epicenters of European Art Nouveau. With a length of just 255 meters, almost every building on this street is a historic monument. Stroll along Alberta Street and enjoy the vibrant facades with wrought iron balconies, elegant archways, and sculptures with expressive faces.

When one longs for more, one finds just around the corner more iconic architectural gems. There are over 800 Art Nouveau buildings in Riga, most of which are located close to the city center.

Alberobello, Apulia, Italy

The term "fairy tale city" should not be used too generously, but there is truly no quirky and enchanting city like Alberobello: On the hills of this Apulian municipality, thousands of traditional "Trulli" twist and turn, houses that look as if they would house hobbits rather than humans, built of white limestone and topped with a stylish conical roof.

Trulli can only be found in this part of the world, so a trip to this protected cultural heritage is definitely worthwhile. Originally built as storage rooms and emergency shelters for livestock, the trulli of the town have now been transformed into hotels, guesthouses, cafés, souvenir shops – and yes, actually also into residential homes.

Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland

Vestmannaeyjar is one of those places where you feel like you have arrived at the end of the world (in a positive sense). After a three-hour drive and a short ferry ride from the center of Reykjavik, you encounter nothing but high, towering cliffs that reflect the light and seem to dance into the sky. You are now in Vestmannaeyjar – or the Westman Islands – a group of islands with 4,000 inhabitants off the south coast of Iceland.

The entire island is a fairytale place, where small wooden houses are illuminated by gentle hills and jagged rock walls, and puffin babies waddle at your feet. However, it is probably best known for the Elephant Rock, which can be viewed up close during a speedboat ride – simply magical.