Must-See Destinations in Europe for faith-based travelers

A Faith-Based Grand Tour in Europe
People travel to Europe for a myriad of reasons. Some folks cross the pond to specifically experience the art & history of the Old Continent while others visit strictly to sample the food and indulge in the wonderful wine. Yet others travel to Europe to enrich or learn more about their faith and these faith-based travelers are rewarded as Europe is home to a myriad of religious sites worth visiting and reflecting upon. Whether you are a faith-based traveler yourself or are just fascinated by the story of the world’s religions, the following places are sure to leave a lasting impression on you. Click on the slideshow to see some of the best places to visit in Europe for faith-based travelers.

Vatican City
The world’s smallest country is the home base of the Roman Catholic Church and it possesses several attractions that will fascinate faith-based travelers no matter their affiliation. Home to St. Peter’s Basilica—the world’s largest church—the enthralling Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel (and its renowned frescoes), the Vatican Necropolis and many others, this enclave in the heart of Rome has more historical and faith-based points of interest per square mile than anywhere else in Europe. And if you are here on a Sunday, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to watch the Pope speaking to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square.

Lourdes, France
The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a local girl inside a grotto here back in the 1850s, and pilgrims have been flocking to this city in southwestern France ever since. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is located in the grotto where the apparitions were said to occur and they are a major draw for pilgrims from the world over. Regardless of your faith, the setting of the town—tucked in the foothills of the Pyrenees—and the energy on its streets is sure to captivate.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Turkey
A wonder of ancient architecture and a star of Istanbul’s dazzling skyline, Hagia Sophia began life as a church in the sixth century, enjoying nearly 1000 years as the largest cathedral in the world before being converted to a mosque in 1453 after the Ottoman conquest of the city. Visit to learn all about the extraordinary history of this structure, the information that historians have derived from its walls, and how important the building is to the cultural heritage of Turkey.

Dohány Street Synagogue, Hungary
The largest synagogue in all of Europe, this architectural marvel in Budapest has served as the hub of religious life for the city’s Jewish community since its construction in the mid-1800s. A visit will teach faith-based travelers all about the building’s heritage and importance as will a tour of the gardens and neighborhood—an area that is rich with historical sites and memorials dedicated to Budapest’s Jewish community.

Assisi, Italy
The hometown of St. Francis—one of Italy’s patron saints and one of the more famous saints in Christendom—Assisi is one of Italy’s most revered sites for faith-based travelers. Soak up the atmosphere of this special hill town before visiting The Basilica of San Francesco, where St. Francis was laid to rest.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Legend says that the apostle St. James is buried inside Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and as a result, over the centuries, one of the world’s most famous pilgrimage routes sprung up to accommodate the masses who wanted to visit for themselves. That route is the famed Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) and whether you walk the path or just visit the city that sits at the finish line, the spirit surrounding Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral is sure to move you.

Cordoba, Spain
Not only is this Spanish city home to the fascinating Córdoba Mosque-Cathedral—a former mosque turned cathedral that dates from the time when The Moors controlled the region—it is also home to the historic Jewish Quarter of Córdoba and its notable synagogue. There is truly something for travelers and history lovers of all faiths and affiliations in this enthralling city.

Fatima, Portugal
The reported visions of Mary to local shepherd children in 1917 led to Fatima becoming an incredibly important pilgrimage site. A visit to the Shrine of Fátima and its Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima and Chapel of the Apparitions is sure to make an impression on you regardless of your affiliation. If you visit on the 12th or 13th of the month, you will be joined by crowds of pilgrims as these days are the most popular to visit as they coincide with the dates of the month the visions are said to have started.

Rome, Italy
Even outside of Vatican City, Rome is chock full of attractions that will grab the attention of any faith-based traveler. Home to six of the “Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome”, a myriad of historic churches and temples in addition to being home to a historical Jewish Quarter, religion and religious history courses through the veins of the Eternal City.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Turkey
Also known as the “Blue Mosque”, this architectural and spiritual wonder has stood tall in Istanbul since the early 1600s. Faith-based travelers should visit to admire the six minarets & gorgeous gardens outside and the thousands of intricate tiles—a feature that gives the mosque its nickname—that line the walls inside.

Prague’s Jewish Quarter, Czech Republic
This section of Prague’s Old Town is home to several historical synagogues, poignant museums and a cemetery that all help tell the story of one of Europe’s most historically significant Jewish populations. Expect to be fascinated by the heritage but also saddened by some of the dreadful chapters of history that were experienced by the residents of this neighborhood.

Wittenberg, Germany
This is the place. The precise spot where the Reformation began after Martin Luthe made his “95 Theses” public back in 1517. He is said to have nailed them to the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church, but while some details of that story are disputed, what’s for certain is that what happened in this town altered the path of history, making a must-see for faith-based travelers in Europe.

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar has a long history as a city of multiple faiths and one stroll around the city will show you mosques, Catholic churches, synagogues and Orthodox churches. The city’s symbol is the Stari Most bridge, which was built by the Ottomans but had to be rebuilt following its destruction in the 90s during the conflict in the region. As a result, the city is a treat for faith-based travelers and some may also find a trip to the nearby Marian pilgrimage site Medjugorje worthwhile as well.

Jasna Góra Monastery, Poland
Located in the town of Czestochowa, this monastery is one of Central Europe’s most cherished pilgrimage destinations. The crowds come from all over the world to pay respect to the image of Mary called the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, which has been credited with numerous divine interventions over the years.

Meteora Monasteries, Greece
No matter your affiliation or lack thereof, the sight of these Eastern Orthodox monasteries perched upon rocky outcrops in the Greek mountains is sure to leave you speechless. Visit to learn more about the communities that call these monasteries home and their reasons for retreating to—and living— in this mystical landscape.