Europe has been inspiring the great thinkers of the world for hundreds of years. You could argue that you can’t not be inspired in Europe. Still, some places are better depending on what type of inspiration you’re searching for! Read on for a guide detailing the best places to be inspired…in Europe!
If you want to be inspired to become a chocolatier…
Visit Bruges, Belgium. Belgium has some of the best chocolate in the world, and Bruges has so many delicious and creative little chocolate shops!
If you want to be inspired to be a great architect…
Visit Prague. Prague was one of the few cities in Europe to fully escape bombing in World War II. I’m not sure this is true, but I was told that the reason Prague was kept so intact is because Hitler himself loved it and wanted to preserve it.
If you want to be inspired to write about mermaids…
Visit Copenhagen, Denmark. Hans Christian Andersen, writer of “The Little Mermaid” and other stories, hailed from this lovely city–you can even visit several of his former homes, and the Little Mermaid statue itself.
If you want to be inspired to become the next Marco Polo…
Visit his rumored birthplace of Korcula, Croatia.
If you want to be inspired to make a movie about World War II…
Visit Krakow, Poland. Right outside of Krakow is also Auschwitz, a concentration camp made into a museum. It is by no means a fun visit but I believe it is necessary when you are in the area.
If you want to be inspired to write dark fairy tales…
Visit Peles Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Everyone knows Dracula came from Romania, and this castle would be the ideal setting for your own story about vampires.
If you want to be inspired to bust out a chorus of “Let It Go”…
Visit the fjords of Norway. This is where Elsa and Anna danced and sang and almost froze to death, after all.
If you want to be inspired to become the next Disney princess…
Visit Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Said to be the inspiration of Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle, this castle will take your breath away with its setting alone.
If you want to be inspired by the fact that the HILLS ARE ALIVE…
Visit Hallstatt, Austria…or Mittenwald, Germany…or Salzburg, Austria. I couldn’t pick just one!
If you want to be inspired to open your own teashop…
Visit London, England. My favorite places for tea (although I am no expert!) are the Orangery at Kensington Palace, the British Museum (for a break while exploring of course), the National Gallery and Fortnum & Mason.
If you want to be inspired to become a classical musician…
Visit Vienna, Austria. Mozart played here, and they still have so much fabulous music–like an amazing boys’ choir you can hear in this very building on certain Sundays throughout the year
If you want to be inspired to act in a period film…
Visit Budapest, Hungary. Budapest, thanks to its price and the gorgeous, historical streets, is a prime spot for filmmakers. Walking near (or sometimes through) a film set was a common occurrence while I lived there.
If you want to be inspired to write poetry…
Visit the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy. Lord Byron was famously inspired by this bridge: “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and a prison on each hand.”
If you want to be inspired to paint like the masters…
Visit the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. While the Louvre is amazing of course, I loved the Musée d’Orsay–in an old train station!–more, partly because of the atmosphere and the increased accessibility of the art.
If you want to be inspired to read the classics…
Visit the ruins of Athens, Greece. My favorite part about visiting Athens and Greece are the ruins mixed in with modern life.
If you want to be inspired to write about a hunchback…
Visit the towers of Notre-Dame in Paris. You’ll be searching for Quasimodo the entire time!
If you want to be inspired to become a famous photographer…
Visit the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland. You can’t help but take a photo around every bend in this part of the world.
If you want to be inspired to go back to school for philosophy…
Visit Oxford in England.
If you want to be inspired to start a revolution…
Visit the remnants of the Berlin Wall in Germany. The East Side Gallery is probably the best spot to see the pieces, although you can find sections in other areas of the city too.
If you want to be inspired to be the next great mountain climber…
Visit the High Tatras in Slovakia.
If you want to be inspired to start a farm…
Visit Bavaria in Austria and Germany. The farms here are ridiculously picturesque.
If you want to be inspired to go completely green…
Visit Slovenia. Slovenia has been nominated as one of the greenest countries (environmentally) in the world–and it’s completely gorgeous, too.
If you want to be inspired to open a hip wine bar…
Visit Belgrade, Serbia. While Belgrade is definitely still on the grungy side, the endless, creative cafés and bars would inspire anyone to find their own niche.
If you want to get inspired to invent your own world…
Visit the Elephant Café in Edinburgh, Scotland. The rumor is that J.K. Rowling couldn’t afford to heat her place at the time, so she came to this café to write the first Harry Potter book. It’s a great café with a beautiful view either way! I especially love the bathrooms–when I went, they were covered in graffiti dedicated to J.K. and her books!
Where do you find the most inspiration around you? What would you add to this Europe list?
