UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe

The prehistoric megalithic temples at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra is Malta's Stonehenge, just older. They date back to about 3200 BC, predating both the Pyramids and Stonehenge, making them the oldest freestanding stone structures in the world. The huge slaps of rocks, which make up the temple complexes, stand tall on a ridge which breaks off into the Mediterranean Sea. Large tents have been erected over the temples to protect then from weather erosion. Surprisingly, little is known about these temples and the civilization who built them, but there are several others megalithic temples on Malta and Gozo: The Ġgantija Temples (Gozo), Tarxien Temples (Malta), Ta' Hagrat temples (Malta), and Skorba Temples. All of them are, of course, UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

With a whopping population of 6,098, the UNESCO listed capital of Malta can hardly be called a metropolis. But the city of Valletta most definitely proves that "good things come in small packages". Dating back some 500 years or so, the historic city has been (and continues to be) heavily restored. But both planning and execution of the refurbishments have been well done. While the main street can seem a little Disney-fied, the beauty of the endless side alleyways and magnificent churches are mesmerizing. Being the transport hub for the island's comprehensive bus network, the village-capital is unavoidable. Which is most certainly for the best as it is arguably the highlight of the island.

Ohrid is beautiful old city right on the shore of Lake Ohrid. It's so rich in history that it's a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old part of town is deadly charming with old houses, winding streets and exquisite churches, where St. John at Kaneo is probably the most famous one. The church was built in the 3rd century and have a magnificent location high on a cape overlooking the lake. In summer time the city transforms itself into holiday zone for mostly local tourists and partygoers. North Macedonia isn't packed with mind-blowing sights, so Ohrid will for sure be the highlight of any trip to North Macedonia.

Boasting one of Norway's 7 UNESCO listed sites, the port city of Bergen is unquestionably the most popular destination in the country. Bryggen, the city's old wharf, is a pleasure to wander around, even if you might need to jostle with the hordes of tourists that show up in the busy summer season. The town is no one-hit wonder in terms of attractions. With a variety of forts, parks and a cool hike (or funicular ride) to an outlook over the city, Bergen has enough to occupy travellers for a few days. But the true life of Bergen is found in the outdoor cafes, pubs and restaurants that overspill into the walkways, almost forcing passersby to sit down, relax and enjoy the people watching.

This is probably the weirdest UNESCO site in Norway. It's a complex of hydroelectric power plants, factories, transport systems and towns built by the Norsk Hydro Company in the early 20th century to manufacture artificial fertilizer. It is a big area to get the grasp of. Probably the best way to explore it is to do one of the self-guided walks established by the tourist office in Rjukan (one of the factory towns). Keep in mind that people still live here. The building in the picture is the Såheim Powerstation, which is located in Rjukan and is still owned and run by Norsk Hydro.

Way before the Vikings, in the Bronze Age, Scandinavia was inhabited by hunter-gatherers. They carved their daily life into slabs of rocks. These rock carvings can be seen throughout Scandinavia (except for mainland Denmark), but the area at Alta is among the absolute best. There have been found more than 6000 individual carvings, where the main site, Jiepmaluokta, contains thousands. The wide variety of figures shows animals, fishing, hunting and shamanistic rituals. The most recent carvings were dated to around 500 BC, the earliest might be around 4200 BC or maybe even older.
The rock carvings are a UNESCO World Heritage site and is today an open-air museum with wooden viewing platforms and boardwalks. A full circuit is about 4 km.

Røros is a delightful old copper-mining town, with a UNESCO-protected historical district consisting of turf-roofed wooden miners’ cottages. But even the newer parts of town are quaint. Surrounded by mountains that remain snow-clad until early summer, Røros is small enough to walk around. There is also an 18th century church, a museum and several galleries worthy of a visit, and cafes line the main street. While it lacks a water-front setting, it certainly gives Bergen a run for its money in terms of pure aesthetics, and is not nearly as overrun by visitors. It is also possible to go on a cold, damp, subterranean tour of the old copper-mine, some distance out of town. And if all else fails, Røros is a good place for people watching, as its inhabitants seem to enjoy dressing up in traditional folk outfits for the slightest reason!

Sognefjord is not only the longest and deepest (an unbelievable 1300m in some parts) of Norway’s fjords, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and varied. In some places its sides are steep and unforgiving, in others gentle, dotted with farms and cherry blossoms. There are countless little villages and towns along Sognefjord and its many branches, each cuter than the next. There is no end to what you can do here, from hikes in the many nearby mountains and boat trips on the water to scenic bike rides or drives along the paths and roads. Sognefjord also includes one of Norway’s two UNESCO-protected fjords, Nærøyfjord, which is often proclaimed to be Norway’s most beautiful. Boat trips are ideal, since they allow you to see places very difficult to access by land, such as waterfalls, farms and Viking graves. Nærøyfjord and its sister, Aurlandsfjord, are probably the most picturesque parts of Sognefjord.

Of Norway's 28 remaining medieval stave churches, only Urnes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built around 1130, making it the oldest stave church, but it's also the most richly decorated. You can only visit the interior on a guided tour.

Norway is in general very beautiful and their tourist slogan "powered by nature" is spot on. But the West Fjords are so dramatic and spectacular that they have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The World Heritage Area comprises two areas; Geirangerfjord (pictured) and Nærøyfjord (which includes Aurlandsfjord). They are some of the longest, deepest, and most narrow fjords in the world. Flanked by mountains towering to 1760 m, Nærøyfjord is 17 km long and only 250 m wide at its narrowest point. The Nærøyfjord area has a great variety of landscape, ranging from naked peaks around the Fresvik glacier to sheltered bays with woodland. Geirangerfjord is by far the most popular, but do yourself a favor and visit both fjords.