“United in diversity”, the motto of the European Union, first came into use in 2000. It signifies how Europeans have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time being enriched by the continent’s many different cultures, traditions and languages. Here are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe:

• London, United Kingdom: First, London has multiple major airports so flights to/from London are plentiful and they tend to have the lowest ticket prices. Second, London is great for first-time travelers because there is no language barrier so it’s a nice way to ease into visiting a foreign country. Third, London is simply an amazing world-class city with so much to do, see, and eat. You can easily spend a week or more here and never run out of things to experience.
• Paris, France: Paris has always been a major tourist destination — and rightfully so. In fact, Paris has been nipping at London’s heels for multiple years and many experts expect Paris to be the most visited European city within a few years. Furthermore, France is the most visited country in Europe.
• Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul has suffered from political instability and security concerns for quite a while but things have calmed down considerably over the past few years. This has made tourism in Instabul skyrocket and now the city is one of the most visited cities in the world — especially for Europeans wanting to experience Istanbul’s “East meets West” vibe.
• Rome, Italy: It’s no surprise that Rome is one of the most visited cities in Europe as it’s widely considered the “world’s second most historically, educationally and culturally interesting and beautiful city”. Rome is another heavy-hitting tourism destination that can easily fill a week (or longer) visit.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amsterdam is certainly one of the most expensive cities in Europe — especially when it comes to accommodation (which tends to happen when small cities receive millions of visitors). Over-tourism is a problem in Amsterdam so I recommend visiting during the off-season if you want to avoid some of the crowds.
• Milan, Italy: Milan is the fashion capital of Europe and the business/finance capital of Italy. It undoubtedly has a more buttoned-up vibe than the rest of Italy, and it wouldn’t be my top Italian destination, but it’s still a great city if you’ve already explored Italy’s other highlights.