Back to grid

Top historical destinations and historic sites

Back to grid
Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
9.1
A wall divided this city for 28 years starting in 1961 during the Cold War. Crowds tore down sections of it in 1989 as East Germany's government collapsed. Visitors can walk along the East Side Gallery, painted with murals on a surviving stretch. Checkpoint Charlie nearby marks a former crossing point between the divided halves.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit the Reichstag Dome for panoramic city views
  • 🌉 Admire the Brandenburg Gate illuminated at night
  • 🧱 Explore the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Japanese emperors ruled from this city for over a thousand years starting in 794. Allied forces removed it from atomic bombing target lists due to its cultural heritage. Visitors can walk through thousands of temples and shrines scattered across the city. Geisha districts here still preserve traditions dating back centuries.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Nara
Giant Buddha, tame deer and ancient temples
8.4
Japan established its first permanent capital in this city in 710 AD. Todai-ji temple here houses one of the country's largest bronze Buddha statues. Visitors can walk through parks where deer, considered sacred messengers, roam freely. Ancient wooden buildings nearby rank among the oldest surviving structures on Earth.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Explore historic Kasuga Taisha Shrine lantern pathways
  • 🏯 Visit Todaiji Temple and see the Great Buddha
  • 🦌 Feed and photograph friendly deer in Nara Park
Hiroshima
Peace Park, okonomiyaki and Miyajima ferry
8.4
An atomic bomb destroyed most of this Japanese city on August 6, 1945. A single building near the blast's center survived as a skeletal ruin. Visitors can view the Atomic Bomb Dome, preserved exactly as it stood after the explosion. A nearby peace park and museum document the events and their aftermath.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Stroll Shukkeien Garden’s tranquil bridges and ponds
  • 🏛️ View the haunting ruins of the Atomic Bomb Dome
  • 🕊️ Reflect at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum
Nuremberg
Imperial castle, gingerbread and Christmas market
7.5
Medieval walls still encircle much of this German city's historic center. Allied judges later held war crimes trials here following the Second World War. Visitors can tour the courtroom where those Nuremberg trials once took place. Rally grounds built for prewar political events remain partially standing nearby.
Highlights:
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll through the medieval lanes of Nuremberg’s Old Town
  • 🏛️ Learn about history at the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
  • 🏰 Explore Nuremberg Castle and enjoy panoramic old town views
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
8.6
Shoguns of the Tokugawa dynasty built elaborate shrines here starting in the 1600s. Toshogu Shrine holds the remains of the dynasty's founding ruler. Visitors can view carvings covering nearly every surface of the shrine's gates. Cedar trees lining the approach were planted centuries ago by a local lord.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Admire the majestic Kegon Falls viewpoint
  • 🌉 Cross the striking vermilion Shinkyo Bridge
  • ⛩️ Visit the ornate Nikko Toshogu Shrine complex
Aachen
Charlemagne's cathedral and hot springs
7.2
Charlemagne made this German city his capital and was buried here after his death in 814. Its cathedral's octagonal chapel dates back to his original palace complex. Visitors can view his marble throne, used to crown later German kings for centuries. Thirty successive monarchs were crowned inside the same cathedral over 600 years.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Tour the historic Aachen Town Hall and its frescoes
  • 🏺 Explore the Aachen Cathedral Treasury's medieval treasures
  • ⛪ Visit Aachen Cathedral, Charlemagne's royal chapel
Nagasaki
Peace memorials, trade history and harbor views
7.9
Dutch traders operated from a small artificial island here during Japan's era of isolation. Dejima remained one of the country's only links to the outside world for centuries. Visitors can tour a reconstructed version of the historic trading post. A second atomic bomb struck the city in August 1945, reshaping its later history.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Take in panoramic city views from Mount Inasa
  • 🏛️ Explore historic Glover Garden and Western mansions
  • ☮️ Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park
Trier
Roman gates, baths and Moselle wine
8.6
Romans founded this German city around 16 BC, making it one of the country's oldest. Emperors later ruled parts of the Roman Empire from here directly. Visitors can walk through the Porta Nigra, a massive Roman city gate. Underground Roman baths nearby still show the scale of ancient engineering.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Wander around Hauptmarkt, vibrant historic market square
  • ⛪ Visit Trier Cathedral, Germany’s oldest church
  • 🏰 Explore the ancient Roman Porta Nigra city gate
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
9.5
Dutch colonists founded a settlement called New Amsterdam here in 1624. The English seized control decades later, renaming it after the Duke of York. Visitors can walk lower Manhattan streets that still follow the original colonial layout. Federal Hall nearby marks the spot where George Washington took his first oath.
Highlights:
  • 🌃 Visit Times Square at night for unforgettable neon views
  • 🎭 Watch a Broadway musical in the Theater District
  • 🏙️ Admire skyline views from the Top of a skyscraper
Dresden
Baroque Elbe city rebuilt from the ruins
8.2
Allied bombing destroyed most of this German city's historic center in February 1945. Its Frauenkirche church stood as rubble for decades before reconstruction began. Visitors can view the rebuilt church, completed using salvaged original stones where possible. Dark stones scattered among lighter new ones mark pieces that survived the bombing.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Explore the Zwinger Palace and its stunning art collections
  • 🌉 Walk across the Augustus Bridge for views of the historic skyline
  • ⛪ Admire the reconstructed Frauenkirche and its breathtaking dome
Potsdam
Prussian palaces and lakes near Berlin
8.1
Prussian king Frederick the Great built Sanssouci Palace here as a summer retreat in 1747. Allied leaders later met in a different palace nearby to negotiate postwar terms in 1945. Visitors can tour Sanssouci's rococo interiors and terraced vineyard gardens. Cecilienhof Palace still displays the room where the Potsdam Conference took place.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Explore the historic Cecilienhof Palace and conference site
  • 🏘️ Walk through the charming Dutch Quarter’s red-brick streets
  • 🏰 Tour the majestic Sanssouci Palace and gardens
Kamakura
Great Buddha, Zen temples and surf beaches
8.5
Samurai leader Minamoto no Yoritomo made this Japanese city his capital in 1192. A shogunate government ruled the country from here for nearly 150 years. Visitors can view the Great Buddha, a bronze statue cast in 1252. Zen temples built during that era still hold gardens open to the public.
Highlights:
  • 🎋 Walk the bamboo groves of Hokokuji Zen Temple
  • 🌸 Explore Hasedera Temple’s gardens and sea views
  • 🗿 Visit the Great Buddha statue at Kotoku-in Temple
Himeji
Famed white castle and samurai gardens
8.4
Feudal lords completed this Japanese castle's current form in 1609. Its white plastered walls earned the nickname White Heron Castle for their appearance. Visitors can climb wooden floors inside one of Japan's few original, unreconstructed castles. The complex survived wartime bombing that destroyed much of the surrounding city.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Hike Mount Shosha and visit Engyoji Temple
  • 🌸 Stroll through the tranquil Koko-en Japanese Garden
  • 🏯 Explore the majestic and historic Himeji Castle
Ise
Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine city
7.8
Shinto priests have rebuilt this Japanese shrine complex every 20 years since ancient times. The practice, called Shikinen Sengu, keeps the wooden architecture perpetually renewed. Visitors can walk cypress-lined paths toward the inner shrine dedicated to the sun goddess. Only priests and the imperial family may enter its innermost sanctuary.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Explore Naiku and Geku, the inner and outer shrine complexes
  • 🍡 Walk the charming old streets of Okage Yokocho and taste local snacks
  • ⛩️ Visit the sacred Ise Grand Shrine, Japan’s most revered Shinto site
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
This city began as a small fishing village called Edo centuries ago. Shoguns transformed it into Japan's political center starting in 1603. Visitors can walk near the Imperial Palace, built on the site of Edo Castle. The city took its current name after the emperor moved there in 1868.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savor sushi at a local eatery
Munich
Bavarian capital of beer gardens and museums
8.7
This Bavarian city was founded by monks around 1158, giving it its name. Marienplatz has served as its central square since the city's earliest days. Visitors can watch the Glockenspiel's figures perform above the town hall. Nearby Nymphenburg Palace once served as summer residence for Bavarian rulers.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Climb St. Peter’s Church tower for city views
  • 🏰 Visit the grand Nymphenburg Palace and gardens
  • 🍺 Raise a stein at Oktoberfest in Theresienwiese
Cologne
Gothic cathedral, Roman ruins and Kölsch
8.4
Builders began this German cathedral in 1248, though work paused for centuries. Construction finally finished in 1880, using the original medieval plans. Visitors can climb the south tower for views over the Rhine River. The cathedral survived World War Two bombing that destroyed much of the surrounding city.
Highlights:
  • 🍺 Taste authentic Kölsch beer in a traditional brewhouse
  • 🌇 Stroll along the Rhine River promenade at sunset
  • ⛪ Climb the Cologne Cathedral towers for panoramic Rhine views
Bayreuth
Wagner, baroque theaters and Franconian beer
9.4
Composer Richard Wagner built a theater in this German town specifically for his operas. The Festspielhaus opened in 1876 with acoustics designed to his exact specifications. Visitors can attend the summer festival still held annually in his honor. Wagner and his wife Cosima are buried in the garden of their nearby home.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Stroll through Bayreuth's historic market square
  • 🍷 Taste Franconian wines at a local vineyard
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle from the base trail
Saxon Switzerland
Sandstone towers and Elbe valley hikes
9.4
Saxon rulers built Konigstein Fortress atop this German region's sandstone plateau centuries ago. Its walls have never been successfully stormed by an attacking army. Visitors can tour the fortress grounds perched high above the Elbe River valley. Sandstone quarried from these cliffs once supplied buildings across the region.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Explore Königstein Fortress, perched high above the river
  • 🌉 Cross the iconic Bastei Bridge for sweeping views over the Elbe valley
  • 🏞️ Hike the Malerweg trail through dramatic sandstone pillars and cliffs
Izu Peninsula
Hot springs, volcanic coast and beaches
8.3
American commodore Matthew Perry negotiated a treaty at Shimoda on this peninsula in 1854. That agreement opened Japan's ports to foreign trade after centuries of isolation. Visitors can walk the harbor town where the historic negotiations took place. Hot springs used by samurai and shoguns still operate throughout the region.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Explore Izu Kogen highland's flower gardens
  • 🏔️ Watch the sunset over Suruga Bay from Cape Koganezaki
  • 🛁 Soak in Atami's famed hot spring baths
Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto's hillside temple with the wooden stage
Monks founded this Kyoto temple in 778 near a sacred waterfall. Its wooden stage was built without using a single nail in construction. Visitors can walk the stage for views over the surrounding hillside forest. Pilgrims still drink from the temple's namesake waterfall for its believed benefits.
Highlights:
  • ❤️ Visit Jishu Shrine and try the love fortune stones challenge
  • 💧 Drink from Otowa Waterfall’s streams for luck and longevity
  • 🌆 Stand on Kiyomizu Stage for panoramic Kyoto city views
Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple beyond a red lantern gate
Legend holds that fishermen found a statue of Kannon in the river here in 628 AD. This Tokyo temple, built soon after, ranks among the city's oldest. Visitors can walk beneath a massive red lantern hanging at the main gate. Nakamise shopping street leading to the temple has sold goods for centuries.
Highlights:
  • 🎐 Draw a sacred omikuji fortune and tie it nearby
  • 🛍️ Browse traditional shops along Nakamise Street for souvenirs
  • ⛩️ Walk through the thunder gate Kaminarimon and enter the temple
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Thousands of torii gates up a Kyoto mountain
This Kyoto shrine has honored the rice deity Inari since the 8th century. Thousands of vermilion torii gates now form tunnels up the sacred mountain behind it. Visitors can hike the full trail past smaller shrines tucked among the trees. Businesses have donated gates for centuries, hoping for prosperity in return.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike to mountain summit for serene shrine views
  • 🦊 Visit fox statues, messengers of the Inari deity
  • ⛩️ Walk through the iconic vermillion Senbon Torii gates tunnel
Nijō Castle
The Tokugawa shogun's Kyoto palace and gardens
Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu built this Kyoto castle as his residence in 1603. Its floors were designed to chirp underfoot, warning of any approaching intruders. Visitors can walk these nightingale floors through halls once reserved for the shogunate. Painted screens inside still display artwork commissioned during that era.
Highlights:
  • 🌸 Wander traditional gardens showcasing seasonal Japanese beauty
  • 🖼️ Admire exquisite Edo-period paintings inside Ninomaru Palace
  • 🎶 Hear the eerie chirping on Nijo Castle’s Nightingale Floors
Neuschwanstein Castle
Ludwig II's unfinished castle above a gorge
King Ludwig II of Bavaria commissioned this fairy-tale castle starting in 1869. He died before construction was ever fully completed on the structure. Visitors can tour ornate rooms decorated with scenes from German legend. Walt Disney reportedly drew inspiration from the castle for a famous theme park design.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Visit Hohenschwangau Palace nearby historic site
  • 🌅 Stroll through Marienbrücke viewpoint for sunset
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle's interior rooms
Kinkaku-ji
Gold leaf pavilion beside a mirror pond
A shogun built this Kyoto pavilion as his retirement villa in 1397. Gold leaf covers its top two floors, giving the temple its nickname. Visitors can view the pavilion reflected in the still pond before it. Fire destroyed the original building in 1950 before a full reconstruction followed.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Enjoy panoramic views of Kinkaku-ji from Sekkatei teahouse hilltop
  • 🌿 Stroll through traditional Muromachi-period stroll garden surrounding the temple
  • 🏯 Marvel at Kinkaku-ji’s dazzling golden pavilion reflected in Kyoko-chi Pond
Feedback