Top tourist destinations in the Schengen area

A Schengen visa is your passport to the Schengen area, which contains 26 of the most vibrant and exciting states in Europe. Schengen visa countries include some of the top tourist destinations in the world, as well as many of the most visited European nations. Spain, France, Italy, and Germany are just some of the many incredible destinations available to holders of Schengen visas. If you want to visit countries in the Schengen area, read on for more information about where you can go on a Schengen visa. Whether you are thinking about visiting Germany or considering visiting Austria; whether you are pursuing a Schengen Spain tourist visa or looking into travel to France, read on for specific information on travel to Europe’s top-sites!

The most visited European nations “Top tourist destinations”

If you are hoping to visit countries in the Schengen area, continue reading for an overview of the top travel destinations in the region. Each of these six Schengen visa countries is also an EU Member States that takes the Euro – and all are accessible with Schengen visas!

France

• The Schengen area is home to some of the most visited countries in the world, including France – the world’s top tourist destination, and a center of fashion, cuisine, and culture. 
• Over 89 million visitors travel to France each year – the majority of whom visit its capital Paris, considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. 
• Paris has some of the best restaurants and most famous landmarks on earth: the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral are must-see destinations for tourists. In terms of art museums, the Louvre (the largest and most visited in the world) draws massive crowds to its vast collections, which include the Mona Lisa – inarguably the world’s most famous painting. 
• Outside of Paris, millions of tourists travel to France in order to visit Versailles, a massive, gilded, 17^th-century baroque palace home to France’s most glamorous kings and queens.  
• In the south of France, tourists can visit the chic beaches along the French Riviera, the picturesque lavender fields of Provence, and ski in the French Alps. 
• In the north, visitors can explore the WWII battle sites in Normandy, tour the mystical island monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel, and sample sparkling wines throughout the Champagne region. 

Germany 

• One of the top 10 most-visited countries in the world, Germany attracts just under 40 million foreigners a year due to its sophisticated economy as well as its many tourist sites. 
• Millions of people visiting Germany each year do so through a Schengen visa, which gives you access to all the country’s top destinations, including Berlin, Bavaria, and Frankfurt. 
• Berlin, the capital of Germany, and the largest city in the EU, is a vibrant, modern, multi-ethnic urban center filled with artistic spaces, including Museum Island; a literal island filled with historic and contemporary museums, which collectively houses some of the world’s most important European art and ancient artifacts. 
• In addition to art, the city contains sober yet fascinating memorials to the Holocaust and the Berlin Wall, as well as historic structures like the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. 
• Outside the capital, Munich attracts millions of visitors to Oktoberfest, an annual celebration of the Bavaria region’s unique culture. During the festival, revelers wear dirndls and lederhosen (traditional Bavarian costumes) and drink beer and eat local cuisine along communal tables. 
•  Visitor’s throughout Germany can tour the country’s innumerable historic palaces, including castle Neuschwanstein, a dreamy, fairytale structure, and also ski in the country’s alpine region. 

Spain

• Spain is the second most visited country in the world after France, drawing just under 84 million visitors annually. 
• A Schengen Spain tourist visa will give you access to the best of Spain’s sites, including Madrid, Barcelona, and the Basque Region. 
• Spain’s warm Mediterranean climate draws many visitors from northern Europe, who compete for sunbathing spots along its Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.  
• Madrid, the capital, is a sophisticated center of art and culture. One of its most visited spots is the Prado, the Spanish National Museum, which contains the world’s most complete collection of Spanish art. 
• Outside the capital, Barcelona is a top travel destination for its Mediterranean beaches and Gaudi-designed-modernist architecture.  
• Through a Schengen Spain tourist visa, you can also explore the northern Basque region, famed for its sophisticated cuisine throughout its multiple Michelin starred restaurants. 

Italy 

• One of the top-five most visited countries in the world, Italy attracts tens of millions of foreign tourists yearly for its ancient history, artistic legacy, and delicious cuisine. 
• If you are thinking of visiting Italy, a Schengen visa is a great way to see the country’s highlights, including Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and the south. 
• Roman history is on display throughout the Italian capital, which is one of the most  historic cities in the world. Visitors to Rome can learn about its ancient history up close at Coliseum, where gladiators entertained emperors, and the Pantheon, Rome’s iconic temple-turned church. The center of Catholicism, Rome attracts millions of Catholic pilgrims to Vatican city, home to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Pope.  
• In central Italy, the wine region of Tuscany beckons visitors to the Italian countryside, while its capital, Florence, offers Renaissance treasures amid an historic cityscape. 
• The wonders of the Renaissance are also on display across northern Italy, particularly in Venice, with its iconic canals, gondolas, and palazzos. Milan, the country’s fashion capital, offers sophistication and high design, while the mountainous Dolomite region presents unparalleled options for skiing. 
• Southern Italy has its own unique cuisine and culture, from gritty Naples – the birthplace of pizza, to the island of Sicily – the country’s southernmost region. If you are thinking of visiting Italy, the south has much to explore!

Austria

• German-speaking Austria welcomes millions of visitors each year. With a Schengen visa, you too can explore its top sights! 
• Most tourists who are visiting Austria go first to Vienna, its capital. A refined center of Viennese art and culture, travelers to the capital can view the works of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt at the 18^th-century Belvedere Museum, sample pastries like Apfelstrudel across its many cafés, and attend an opera at the city’s famous Vienna State Opera House. 
• Outside the capital, you can tour the country’s many elegant palaces and historic residences or ski throughout its alpine regions  

Greece

• Vibrant and welcoming, Greece attracts over thirty-million visitors a year with its ancient culture, picturesque islands, and dry Mediterranean climate. 
• A Schengen visa is a good option for those who are thinking of visiting Greece, including Athens, Santorini, Crete, or any of the other famous Greek destinations immortalized by Homer. 
• Athens, the Greek Capital, has thousands of years of history. Explore the ruins of ancient Greece in the city’s National Archeological Museum, visit the iconic Parthenon at the Acropolis. 
• Outside the capital, those visiting Greece can sample regional cuisine as they sail between the country’s innumerable isles, including Santorini, with its iconic homes of white stucco and blue tiled roofs, and Crete – home to the Bronze-Age palace of Knossos. 

Russia 

• Please note, Russia is not part of the Schengen area, which means that if you are interested in visiting Russia, you will likely have to travel on a different visa (if you are thinking about visiting Russia, you should look into getting a national visa (D) to the country).