Europe's most surprising sights to add to your bucket list

Unexpected spots

Distinct architecture, unique landscapes and native wildlife usually make European destinations easy to identify. But we’ve found some locations that might make you second-guess where you are. Think Middle Eastern and Asian-inspired buildings, American animal species and Australian terrain – they might not be in their native continent, but they're certainly worth a visit.

Read on to discover surprising sights you'd expect to find anywhere but Europe...

Ben Nevis, Highland, Scotland, UK

The peak of Ben Nevis may look like the top of the Himalayas, but it’s actually located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in Scotland. As the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis attracts many visitors who can tread a well-constructed walking path or take a rockier route for mountaineers. Ben Nevis is also a popular location for ice climbing – if you’re interested in trying a new hobby.

Bison, Poland

Bison are considered more of an American than European animal, having gone extinct across Europe in the early 20th century due to hunting and dwindling habitat. However, conservation programmes have once again made the sight of bison in Europe possible by reintroducing the species. Travellers are most likely to see these creatures in eastern Poland, although you may also have some luck in Germany’s Rothaar mountain range.

Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England, UK

The Royal Pavilion’s Indo-Saracenic design was a popular architectural style in British India in the 19th century, but surprisingly the building stands on UK terrain in the seaside city of Brighton. Architect John Nash originally built the building for King George IV, but when Queen Victoria inherited the pavilion, she decided to sell it. Visitors are welcome to look around and the pavilion regularly holds exhibitions, as well as ice skating in the gardens during winter.

Chinese Pavilion and the Japanese Tower, Brussels, Belgium

Head to Parc de Laeken in Brussels and you’ll find two Asian architectural masterpieces. The Chinese Pavilion and the Japanese Tower were commissioned by King Leopold II and built between 1901 and 1905. Despite being designed by Parisian architect Alexandre Marcel, the Japanese Tower contains original pieces from the Edo and Meiji eras as well as woodwork from Tokyo. The two buildings together form the Museums of the Far East and are both currently closed for renovation.

Dark Hedges, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

This spooky-looking tunnel of beech trees known as the Dark Hedges looks strikingly similar to the trees found in the mountainous forests of Yakushima Island in Japan. The trees were never intended to create such natural art – instead, they were planted as a neat entranceway to a manor house. However, time has bent them, and their unique, serpentine shapes have become a landmark for those visiting County Antrim, and a backdrop for HBO series Game of Thrones.

Đavolja Varoš, Kuršumlija, Serbia

You’ll find an extremely rare sight in Serbia – so rare that it was nominated as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Đavolja Varoš, also known as Devil’s Town, has some extremely unusual stone formations located on Mount Radan. A local legend suggests that the tall stones carved out of the rock are actually petrified wedding guests. While this story may keep the faint-hearted away, it’s worth a visit to take in the landscape’s striking shapes.

Lago Di Braies, South Tyrol, Italy

While the US may be among the most popular spots for mountain lake retreats, don’t write off Europe, or more specifically South Tyrol in Italy. Lago Di Braies has beautiful emerald waters which are surrounded by forestland and mountain peaks, with plenty of hotels. The area has a painful past, as it was home to a concentration camp in World War II.

Lynx, various states, Germany

Lynx are predominantly found in moist boreal forests and favour snowy climes, which makes them a common sight in Alaska and Canada. However, there’s a growing population in Germany's Bohemian, Bavarian and Palatinate Forests and in the Harz Mountains. The wild cats disappeared from this European country during the 19th century, but since then lynx from neighbouring Czechia have moved into the area to replace the population that was lost.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece

You may have visited some of the cave lakes in South America, but have you found Melissani Cave in Greece? Melissani Lake is underground and was discovered in 1951 by speleologist Giannis Petrochilos. It was once thought to be a place of worship, and you can learn more at a local museum. Meanwhile, visitors can explore the lake and cave by travelling through a tunnel in boats with an on-site guide.

Sahat Kula, Podgorica, Montenegro

Podgorica old town's landmark Ottoman clock tower wouldn’t look out of place in the Middle East. Sahat Kula was built in 1667 by Hadzi Pasha Osmanagic when the city was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. Today it stands as one of the last few relics from the period, having survived heavy bombing in World War II. It is still operational today.

Neasden Temple, London, England, UK

The Shilpa Shastras design adorning Neasden Temple looks exactly like those in India, but it's in North London. The granite, limestone and marble temple was constructed in the early 1990s, making it the biggest Hindu temple outside India at the time. The local Hindu community still actively worship at the temple, but the building and its well-kept gardens are open to anyone hoping to admire its beauty.

Nutrias, Prague, Czechia

You might be startled to find groups of South American rodents congregating along the bank of Prague’s Vltava River. Nutrias were imported to Europe for their fur and meat but were abandoned after they failed to become popular. With Prague’s ideal climate, they have settled into their surroundings and continued to thrive. Overpopulation is now causing problems for native wildlife, especially as Prague's nutrias don’t have any natural predators.

Ochre Rocks, Roussillon, France

The ancient sandstone rocks of Australia's Red Centre may be the most obvious example of Mother Nature’s bright orange colour palette, but France’s ochre rocks are arguably just as impressive. The vibrant formations in Roussillon were initially carved out as man-made quarries, though they have since also been sculpted by storms. Today, visitors can admire the fiery rocks and enjoy panoramic views via extensive hiking trails.

Parque Natural De Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain

Vast sand dunes are usually associated with the Middle East and North Africa, but it’s possible to stumble across them in Europe too. Head to Fuerteventura – one of Spain's Canary Islands – to find the Corralejo Natural Park, which contains the biggest sand dune in the region. Tourists usually come with supplies to trek across the land and take panoramic photos of the island.

Pfahlbauten, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany

While overwater bungalows have become synonymous with luxury resorts in the tropics, they have a long history in Germany too. At Lake Constance in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, these Pfahlbauten have been reconstructed to model the dwellings that communities once lived in during the Stone and Bronze Ages. Visitors can explore these historic properties at the on-site museum, which also displays artefacts retrieved from a diving excavation in 2002.

The Pink Lake of Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain

Australia has several uniquely pink lakes, such as Lake Hillier, Lake Bumbunga and Lake MacDonnell. However, Spain also boasts pink waters that are less well-known. The aptly named Pink Lake, which sits in a nature reserve called Las Salinas de Torrevieja, gains its vivid colour from its high salt content. While swimming isn’t allowed at Pink Lake, it’s still open for travellers to gaze at its unusual rosy palette.

Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales, UK

The colourful buildings and palm trees of Portmeirion suggest that the town exists in warm climes, but it’s actually a village in Wales. Portmeirion was designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1973, and aimed to emulate Italian architecture. It’s been a popular location for creatives, including famous names such as HG Wells, and it’s also a frequent stopover for those visiting nearby Snowdonia National Park.

Pyramid of Cestius, Rome, Italy

Pyramids are usually associated with Egypt, yet this one resides in Rome, and dates back to around 12 BC. The Pyramid of Cestius is 120 feet (36m) high and is thought to have been built as a tomb for a wealthy Roman. However, the site is shrouded in mystery as there’s not many artefacts remaining to tell us who this person was. The pyramid is usually open to tourists, although it's pretty bare inside except for a few faded frescoes.

Chinese House, Potsdam, Germany

Within the grounds of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam you’ll find Chinese architecture dating back to the 18th century. The Chinese House was borne from Frederick the Great’s desire for escapism in the Chinoiserie style. The unique building has life-sized figures of Chinese people playing music, drinking tea and smoking tobacco. For the intrigued, the park and Chinese House is open for tourists to visit.

Saturnia Thermal Baths, Tuscany, Italy

Hot springs are typically found in places like Canada, Chile, Japan and the US. Lesser known are those in Europe (although Iceland has become an increasingly popular spot for them). Saturnia in Italy isn’t short of warm sulphurous waters – it was once a bathing spot for the ancient Romans. The waters were believed to be a gift from the gods and possess healing powers. Visitors can still enjoy these waters today, for a fee.

Schwetzingen Mosque, Schwetzingen, Germany

While the Schwetzingen Mosque looks like a piece of Middle Eastern architecture, it’s actually in Germany. The mosque was built by Nicolas de Pigage between 1779 and 1795 and is the last remaining garden mosque from the 18th century. The tell-tale signs of its German heritage are in the Arabic inscriptions, which are riddled with spelling mistakes.

The Pagoda, Paris, France

The original Pagoda, located in Paris’s 8th arrondissement, looked completely different to the red Chinese structure that stands today. Once a hotel designed in the French style of Louis Philippe, it was transformed into a pagoda when an Asian art and antique collector bought the building in 1925. Buyer Ching Tsai Loo wanted it to reflect his own Chinese heritage. Today, tourists can view Shanxi lacquer panels as well as elaborate artwork sourced from across Asia.

Þingvellir National Park, Selfoss, Iceland

More otherworldly than non-European, a trip to Iceland's incredible Þingvellir National Park allows you to witness the planet’s outer layer erode right in front of you. The remarkable landscape sits above the point where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates drift apart, which is a unique sight. Tourists travelling to the area can camp out under the stars, dive and fish in specific areas of the park.

Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly, England, UK

Foliage from Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa may fool you into believing you’re walking through a garden in the southern hemisphere, but you’d be wrong. Tresco Abbey Garden is on the Isles of Scilly, just off the coast of Cornwall in mainland England. However, due to its position on the Gulf Stream, it has warm weather which allows exotic species of plants to thrive.

Wat Buddhapadipa, London, England, UK

Wat Buddhapadipa’s architecture may hint at a Thai location, but it’s actually in South London. The Buddhist temple, the first of its kind in the UK, was designed by Thai architect Praves Limparangsi in 1982. To this day, the Wimbledon wonder serves a community of Thai monks who live and worship in the area. It does welcome tourists (admission is free) and the grounds are open between 9am and 6pm daily.

Wolves, Luxembourg

If you encounter a wolf in Luxembourg you'd be forgiven for being surprised, as most are found in Canada and the US. Wolves were once hunted almost to extinction across the European continent, but they are gradually making a comeback in Luxembourg, with evidence of their presence in the east of the country confirmed in 2023. They can also now be spotted in France, Germany and Spain as they continue to breed and more areas are rewilded.

Dugi Otok, Croatia

Dugi Otok might look like a tropical island, but it isn't – it's actually part of Croatia. There are only a few hotels on the island, but if you manage to nab a place at the inn you can expect warmer weather, crystal-clear waters and pine forests. Sakarun Beach is one of the most popular stops for visitors as it offers coastal seclusion. But visitors should also explore Telascica Nature Park and one of Croatia's eight national parks, Kornati.

Oasys Mini Hollywood, Almería, Spain

Located in what is often described as mainland Europe’s only 'true desert', this surreal tourist attraction looks plucked straight from the dusty plains of America’s Wild West. Oasys Mini Hollywood sits in southern Spain’s Desierto de Tabernas and dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, when it was used as a film set for several spaghetti Westerns – most famously The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Lovers of cinema can visit the site today, as it is now a theme park.

Grand Mosque of Paris, Paris, France

You’d be forgiven for thinking this photo was taken in Morocco. From the reflecting pool pictured here, to the building’s towering minaret, tiled courtyard and Arabesque architecture, it could easily be one of Marrakech’s madrasas or Moorish palaces. But this is, in fact, the Grand Mosque of Paris, a hidden gem in the city’s Latin Quarter. Built to honour French Muslim soldiers lost during World War I, the Grand Mosque opened for worship in 1926. It is open to the public today, except on Fridays and during Islamic holidays. There is an on-site women’s hammam, restaurant and tearoom too.

Luskentyre Beach, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK

It’s not hard to see why Luskentyre has been named among the world’s top beaches. With salt-white shores and turquoise waves that wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean or South Pacific, it boasts some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery. It’s certainly worth the expedition to get here – Luskentyre Beach sits on the west coast of South Harris, a remote and rugged corner of the Outer Hebrides. Visitors can go hillwalking, cycling and surfing, or take a boat trip to Taransay, Scotland’s largest uninhabited island.

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