When I first saw photographs of Sintra, I didn't believe the town was real. How could such a fairy tale town with so many magnificent palaces and castles actually exist? It looked too good to be true. When I then found out that Sintra was super close to Lisbon it was just another reason to book my flights and head to Portugal.

Sintra is a small town, just 40 minutes outside of Lisbon, and I don't think it would come as a surprise to anyone that the whole town has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides the colourful and elegant palaces, Sintra is also full of lush forests, mountains and beautiful gardens. It's an ideal place for hikers, not just people who love castles and architecture! The town itself is also well-known for its pastel-coloured houses, quaint shops and cobbled streets. 

Pulpit Rock, also known as Preikestolen, is one of Norway's most famous landmarks. It's a steep cliff that towers 600 metres over the Lysefjorden fjord, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Climbing to the top is one of the country's most famous walks as it's a beautiful attraction and one of the shortest hikes available in Norway.

Vianden Castle in the north of Luxembourg may be one of Europe's most underrated castles. Perched up on the hillside overlooking the small town of Vianden, this castle really is a place worth visiting. If you're spending a weekend in Luxembourg, then you can't go far wrong from spending one day exploring the capital, and the second day exploring Vianden. 

Considering I've now visited over twenty European cities, it surprises even myself that it's taken me this long to visit Amsterdam. Amsterdam needs very little introduction as it's been incredibly popular with tourists for decades now. However, if you need that extra piece of persuasion to book your flights to the Netherlands, here are 14 photos that will definitely make you want to visit Amsterdam!