European Churches Worth Visiting

Every time I go to Europe I end up visiting churches. Dozens of them. I don’t have a religious bone in my body, but I’m drawn to the history, the beauty, the architecture, the artworks, the vibe…sometimes just the cooler or warmer temperatures inside!

From Catholic basilicas to Protestant cathedrals, Jewish synagogues to Orthodox churches even a mosque or two, I have seen so many that I couldn’t even begin to count them.

But when I think of the most magnificent, the most interesting and the most breathtaking, I do have some that come straight to mind. These are the European churches that I absolutely think are worth the visit.

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Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain

I’m starting with what is probably the most iconic church built in the last century, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

I had the privilege of visiting twice last year (2024) and could have happily visited even more times.

The Sagrada Familia was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and construction began in 1882 – yes, that’s 133 years ago. And it is still not finished. But it is expected to be mostly completed in 2026, to commemorate 100 years since Gaudi’s death.

The basilica combines Gothic and modern architectural styles. Inside, tall columns and colourful stained glass windows create a unique space that is nothing short of spectacular.

Visitors can not only enjoy the interior, but it is also possible to climb up the spires for incredible views across Barcelona.

It is one of Spain’s most visited landmarks, and I think if you only choose one from this list, it should be the Sagrada Familia.

St Peter’s Basilica – Vatican City

It’s hard to guess which church is the best known in Europe, but this would have to be a contender. It is certainly one of the most important churches in the Catholic world.

The current building was completed in the 1600s and stands on a site believed to be where Saint Peter was buried.

It features a large dome designed by Michelangelo – the tallest of it’s kind in the world, but slightly narrower than the Pantheon, located just across town.

I remember finding the size of St Peter’s almost overwhelming. It seemed so huge, even cavernous, and it really did feel like I was in a revered space.

The church is also known for its artworks, including Michelangelo’s Pietà, but during my visit I missed many of them, simply being to overwhelmed at being in such a significant place.

A visit up to the top of the dome is a must, for the best views across the forecourt and to Rome beyond.

Matthias Church – Budapest, Hungary

I discovered Matthias Church during a Budapest walking tour as we were exploring the area around Budapest castle.

I always remember it for the unusual and colourful decorations on the walls, pillars and other parts of the interior.

The church has been part of Hungary’s history for over 700 years. It was used for royal coronations and has been rebuilt several times.

In 1867, Franz Joseph I and the very popular Elisabeth (Sisi) were crowned as King and Queen of Hungary inside Matthias Church, marking the start of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary.

Its roof is covered with colourful Zsolnay tiles, and inside there are detailed frescoes and a small museum.

The church is also a venue for classical music concerts due to its great acoustics, so you just might be able to catch a show here if you time it right.

York Minster – York, UK

I have been fascinated with York and it’s minister since reading a historical fiction novel about the War of the Roses years ago, so last year I made it part of our trip – just to see York Minster.

And I was not disappointed.

York Minster is a large Gothic cathedral which took more than 250 years to build, with work starting in the 1200s.

The cathedral is known for its massive stained glass windows, especially the Great East Window, which is one of the largest in the world.

Sadly the beautiful north window, referred to as the Five Sisters Window and built in the 1200s, is now beyond repair, and when it falls out it will be lost forever.

Inside, there are also high vaulted ceilings, old stone carvings, and underground chambers showing the remains of earlier buildings.

With your entrance fee, there are several tours available to learn more about the various aspects of the Cathedral. We did a tour of the stained-glass windows and I had no idea how interesting they could be.

It is still used for worship and events, and visitors can climb also the central tower here too for views over the city.

Notre Dame – Paris, France

Notre Dame Cathedral is located on an island in the middle of the River Seine. Construction began in 1163 and continued for nearly 200 years.

I visited Notre Dame last in 2018, so not too long before it was sadly destroyed by fire.

It was the very first major cathedral I had visited, and I was completely blown away by nearly everything, from the incredible stained glass to the crowds here.

I would love to visit again to see it again after the restoration, and it will be on my list next time I am in Paris. I will be able to take in a lot more of the detail I missed the first time too.

The church is a famous example of Gothic architecture, with flying buttresses, rose windows, and sculpted figures on its facade. Many other churches and cathedrals have been modelled on it over the centuries since.

Temppeliaukio Church – Helsinki, Finland

It was freezing when we visited Helsinki, and as we were wandering around I saw this church marked on a map. It looked like a good place to duck inside out of the weather for a while.

We discovered that the Lutheran Temppeliaukio Church is also called the Rock Church. It was built in the 1960s by carving into solid rock, giving it a natural stone interior.

The entrance is through the rock, and I expected a dark interior, but it opens up in to a wonderful light space.

The roof is made from copper and supported by concrete beams. Natural light enters through a row of windows around the edge of the roof.

The church is still used for services, but many people also visit to hear concerts, thanks to its excellent sound quality. And it’s a great place to just sit a warm up for a few minutes too.

Blue Mosque – Istanbul, Türkiye

Because it’s in the western side of Istanbul, I can still claim the Blue Mosque as part of Europe, even though I generally thing of Türkiye as Asian.

I have visited here twice, and it was one of the first mosques I’ve ever been inside, which I think always leaves an impression, but the sheer size and the beautiful tiling make it worthy of this list.

The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, was built in the early 1600s by order of Sultan Ahmed I. The mosque is famous for its six minarets and its large central dome.

Inside, over 20,000 handmade blue tiles give the building its nickname.

The mosque is still active, so visitors must follow rules when entering, especially during prayer times. It is one of the most well-known sights in Istanbul.

St John’s Co-Cathedral – Valetta, Malta

I almost didn’t visit St John’s Co-Cathedral while we were in Malta. It has an entrance fee, and I wasn’t sure I was feeling it enough to pay to enter. It really doesn’t look very impressive from the outside.

Thankfully a few people told me I had to go in, so right at the end of our trip we did, and oh boy, it’s worth every cent. We even paid extra to add on the short tour up to the bell tower.

Inside it is richly decorated with marble floors, gold details, and paintings. One of the highlights is a painting by Caravaggio that hangs in a side chapel – but they are currently building another section for the artworks.

They do a fabulous audio tour that gives so much information about everything that can be seen, and it is well worth taking the time to listen to it all.

Weiskirche – Barvaria, Germany

When driving a section of the Romantic Road in Bavaria, between Fussen and Munich we stopped and many beautiful and historic churches, but there was one that really left us standing open-mouthed with awe – Weiskirche.

Wieskirche is a pilgrimage church which can be found out in a field near Steingarten. It was built to house the “Tortured Saviour”.

This wooden figure was deemed too graphic to stay in town, so was given to an innkeeper who took it to her house in the countryside. It was here that a miracle occurred, with this figure weeping. 

Years later this baroque church – officially called “Pilgrimage Church to Our Tortured Saviour on the Meadow” – was built. 

Which it looks like a standard white church from the outside, is absolutely beautiful inside, with some absolutely amazing frescoes on the ceiling.

I remember being so surprised that we were almost the only people there at the time – because sure this can’t be a secret?

It’s a bit of a detour off the main road, but if you are nearby, do not miss calling in here for a look.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – Sofia, Bulgaria

I really wanted to include this one because it is one of the most distinctive churches in Europe and the external architecture is just beautiful.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a large Orthodox church. It was built in the early 1900s to honour the Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War, which helped free Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

The cathedral has a gold dome, tall arches, and many icons inside. It can hold around 10,000 people and is one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.

Sadly though, the interior is quite plain. It’s no longer used as a church, it is now mostly a tourist attraction. It also houses a small icon museum.

We found it to be surprisingly old and a little unkempt when we visited in 2017, but it may have been restored further since then.

So while I think you should make an effort to admire the exterior, you may prefer to skip going inside – there are many other more spectacular Orthodox church interiors around.

Honorable Mentions

With all the churches around, there are definitely some that only barely missed this list, and here are a few I also think are great

• Westminster Abbey – London, UK
• Arctic Cathedral, Tromsø, Norway
• Timisoara Cathedral – Timisoara, Romania
• Bayeux Cathedral – Bayeux, France
• Pantheon – Rome, Italy
• St Peters Church – Munich, Germany (For the St Mundita relic)
• Frauenkirche – Munich, Germany (For the devil’s footprint)
• St Marks – Venice, Italy
• St Anthonys – Padua, Italy

…and one I hope to be able to add to the list once I visit in a few months – Hallgrímskirkja, a Lutheran church in Reykjavík, Iceland.