Okay so, you might not be close to say goodbye to this world yet, but start wondering for a second that you are, would travelling to Europe for one last time be in your list? If that’s so, why wait for that time and not start packing already, as Europe awaits you with some of the most fascinating masterpieces of history that you surely don’t wanna miss out on for anything in the world.

It would literally take a lifetime to visit the countless amazing places there are to see in Europe. So if you’re planning to visit soon and don’t have much time, here are the top 20 spots you must not miss.

20. Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

When you think about how old the Charles Bridge which spans the Vltava River in Prague is, it’ll make you question how it’s still standing. The bridge’s sixteen arches are over five hundred years old and the bridge towers, which are part of an earlier construction, date right back to the fourteenth century.

Why Visit? The Charles Bridge is strikingly gothic. The thirty odd statues of saints you’ll come across when you walk over the bridge are a serious must see. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else it Europe. It is unmatchable in its construction as well as beauty.

19. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the longest railway bridge in Scotland. It’s not only extraordinary because it made its appearance in the Harry Potter films either. The viaduct has twenty one arches which carry a single track railway line one hundred feet above the River Finnan and through the Finnan valley for more than one thousand two hundred feet. Without one ounce of metal reinforcement? Now that’s magic right there.

Why Visit? As far as mass concrete structures go, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is undoubtedly one of the most astonishing in the world. Board the train ride as soon as you can if you want to experience one of the most scenic rides of your life.

18. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Architect Antoni Gaudi succeeded in leaving his mark all over Barcelona with his unique and creative designs. Sagrada Familia is the most prominent of all. It’s a building which really catches your eye with its extravagant grandiosity. Construction of the church began way back in the late nineteenth century and still hasn’t been completed.

Why Visit? The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly a very worthy place to see before you die. Because with Sagrada Familia, if you live to be a hundred and they ever actually finish it, you’ll be able to say you saw it while it was still in the building process. That can’t be said about many national monuments so make the most of this matchless opportunity.

17. Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

The Grand Canal slices through the city of Venice in Italy for almost two and a half miles. The inner-city waterway is nearly three hundred feet wide in places which is good as there can be anywhere up to five thousand boats a day navigating along it.

Why Visit? The Grand Canal is lined on both sides with unbelievable historic buildings and is probably the most adorned stretch of waterway anywhere in the world. Most of the remarkable buildings are only viewable by boat, but it’s the constant wash of boat wakes which cause them structural damage. You have to see them before their foundations become beyond repair and they vanish beneath the water in a pile of ruins

16. Dona Ana Beach, Lagos, Portugal

The Dona Ana Beach is an astounding stretch of spotless sand just one and a half miles from the center of Lagos. What’s surprising is that such a stunning stretch of coastline exists so close to urbanity. What makes it even more remarkable is the rugged cliffs which back the beach. They’ve been eroded by the action of sea and wind into unusual formations which expose the rock’s multi-colored strata.

Why Visit? The beaches are went to without a reason but if you do need a reason, well, you can always brag about how you saw the cliffs before they were damaged by the elements and became just another pile of sand.

15. Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher are a shockingly rugged part of Ireland’s west coast. It’s a long, almost four hundred foot, drop from the cliff tops down into the Atlantic Ocean below. They’re steep, they’re lean and trust me when I say, nature used her toughest tool when she carved away the land to form the eight and a half miles of this stark geological formation.

Why Visit? If you visit the Cliffs of Moher, you’ll be able to say you’ve stood on the edge of, if not the world, then at least Ireland. Any more persuasion needed?

14. The Gorges du Verdon, SE France

Carved from solid rock by the raging waters of the Verdon River, the Gorges du Verdon stretches like a scar through the French countryside for over fifteen miles. Even more breathtaking are the valley sides which tower over two thousand feet about the glacial blue river water.

Why Visit? If you are looking to get some adrenanline thrill, The Gorges du Verdon is the perfect place. Canoeing through the canyon is like time traveling back to the Jurassic world, only fortunately without the dinosaurs.

13. Preikestolen, Near Stavanger, Norway

Preikestolen, which is an enormous rock formation in the Norwegian wilds, is one of the best places to visit in Scandinavia.  Known as Pulpit Rock it looms over the ice blue waters of the Lysefjord to a staggering height of almost two thousand feet. Topped by an eighty square foot plateau it is one of Norway’s most photographed landmarks.

Why Visit? If you ever wanted to preach a sermon to the world, well, this is the place to do it. The Preikestolen isn’t nicknamed Pulpit Rock for nothing. Spread your arms and shout a few words, your voice will be carried on for miles.

12. The Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes Peninsula, SW Iceland

The Blue Lagoon on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula is the world’s most scenic spa. The cloudy azure waters of the man-made lagoon are heated by an underground volcanic lava field and loaded with therapeutic minerals which are reputed to aid the healing of skin problems.

Why Visit? If you’re going to spoil yourself with a spa treatment then do it in the best way. The Blue Lagoon is definitely that. It can work out quite costly for a quick dip so if you’re traveling on a budget, check out these cheaper alternatives to the Blue Lagoon instead.

11. Landwasser Viaduct Bridge, Filisur, Switzerland

The Landwasser Viaduct transports a single track rail line across the Landwasser River at a mind-boggling height of over two hundred feet. Its six arch formation is an incredible architectural milestone considering it was constructed well over a hundred years ago.

Why Visit? The Landwasser Viaduct Bridge is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, only for the bravehearted though. As you ride the train across it, it’ll be the scariest edge of your seat, hold your breath, adrenaline thrill you’ve ever had without entering an amusement park.

10. Gásadalur, Faroe Islands

The Gásadalur or Múlafossur Waterfall as it is also known really is one of Nature’s hidden treasures. Situated on a remote Faroe Islands with only the small village of Gásadalur close by, the stunning waterfall tumbles over a steep cliff edge colonized by seabirds. It is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Europe.

Why Visit? If you want to call yourself a true adventurer, you must go to see the Múlafossur Waterfall. It is so far removed from civilization not many people have actually been there. You’ll be among the only few who are able to upload their photos to the internet.

9. Hallstatt Village, Austria

The Hallstatt Village is on the shores of Lake Hallstatt in Austria. Backed by a rugged mountain landscape, it’s more easily reachable by boat than by road. Seemingly unharmed by time, the village’s colorful alpine houses and cobbled streets date to the sixteenth century.

Why Visit? Going to Hallstatt Village is like visiting a whole different world from centuries past. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to time travel backwards a few centuries, you’ll find the answer here.

8. Keizersgracht, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Keizersgracht or Emperor’s Canal is the widest canal in Amsterdam. Over a hundred feet wide, the canal is lined by five hundred-year-old buildings which, although they may have been converted into luxury apartments, still maintain their original facades.

Why Visit? Amsterdam is a city full of canals. If you’re planning to see one, make sure it’s the biggest. Go in winter when it’s frozen over and rather than sail down it in a canal barge, you can experience skating down it instead.

7. Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

Out of the five towns which consist of the UNESCO site of Cinque Terre in Italy only Vernazza has a harbor. The colorful houses of the car-free fishing hamlet area hold a major charm for the photographers.

Why Visit? Go and see it before it is completely destroyed by the flooding and mudslides and you miss out on a beauty like that. Do you need a better reason to go?

6. Oia, Santorini, Greece

Oia is a village which nestles in a volcanic cauldron on the coast of the Greek island of Santorini. Its houses are coated an eye-catching white and blue, but while it may look flawlessly new, the settlement’s history is traceable as far back as the beginning of the eleventh century.

Why Visit? Most Greek monuments are either ruins or at some stage of falling into disrepair. Maintained to a original, perfect level, Oia is a Greek rarity. Go there and you’ll see Greece at its very best.

5. Neuschwanstein Castle, SW Bavaria, Germany

The striking Neuschwanstein Castle perches on a hill and oversees the Hohenschwangau valley in SW Bavaria. It is one of the best castles in Germany. Built as a king’s folly in the mid to late nineteenth century its internal plumbing and heating systems were a major leap forward in the technology of the times.

Why Visit? Neuschwanstein Castle is often called the fairytale castle because of its exterior multi-turreted appearance. Whether it was inspired by a fairy tale or writers of fairy tales were inspired by it is a question which still begs to be answered. Visit the castle to see if you can find a vital clue to the never-ending mystery story.

4. Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

The Eiffel Tower does literally tower above Paris, the French capital. The metal construction is a dizzying one thousand feet high and is the tallest structure in the city. It took two years to build and was inaugurated just in time for the 1889 World Fair.

Why Visit? The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most iconic monuments. Who can deny the exquisite aura it holds? The view from the observational platform is the view of Paris you must see before you die.

3. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Iceland

The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is one of Iceland’s most remarkable waterfalls. The water source, from a glacial melt, rages over the cliff and drops a outstanding two hundred feet before ongoing its course.

Why Visit? Hidden behind the raging stream of water which is the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is a cave. Accessible by foot, the cave gives you a unique viewpoint to observe the waterfall in all its force and to get some amazing photographs – rainbows included. You can’t do that anywhere else in Europe.

2. Seven Sisters Waterfall, Geiranger, Norway

The Seven Sisters Waterfall is a group of seven streams which cascade over a cliff near Geiranger in Norway. Not the tallest waterfall in Norway by any means with a drop of just over eight hundred feet, but definitely one of the best things to see in Scandinavia.

Why Visit? The Seven Sisters Waterfall is fed by melting glacier ice without which there’d be no waterfalls. Go to see it before the effects of global warming turn it dry and it’s nothing more than another Norwegian cliff face.

1. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is an startling conformation of sixteen lakes interlinked by stunning waterfalls and surrounded by forests. Situated between the Mala Kapela and Lička Plješivica mountain ranges, it’s recognized worldwide as a place of exceptional natural beauty and was Croatia’s first national park.

Why Visit? The beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park cannot be described in words. It is something you just have to see with your own eyes to believe it. Even photographs don’t do it full justice. It really is one of the best national parks in Europe. That’s something you really don’t want to miss.