the best cathedrals in europe

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights Guide to the best cathedrals and some churches in Europe. Many of the most impressive buildings across Europe are cathedrals, basilicas and churches. They act not only as places of religious significance, but also as community centers, meeting points, and often star attractions for their cities. They can be architectural wonders, and places of huge historic significance. This list will be regularly updated as I discover more of these incredible buildings, and I hope it will inspire you to visit a few of them. 
What Makes a Great Church or Cathedral?
This is a question I've been wrestling with since I decided to write this piece. I have to say from the start I'm not a religious person so I can't tell you which church does the best Mass, or which has the holiest holy water, but hopefully you'll still find this guide useful. There's are a few things I look for though, aesthetic beauty is I'm afraid one of them, hopefully that doesn't make me shallow. Historical significance is another key factory for me, as is uniqueness, once you've visited this many religious sites they can start to blend together. A macabre crypt is always a nice touch, as is a great view from the roof, dome or tower when you're allowed up.
While size does matter to an extent as everyone loves a huge imposing building it's far from a major factor and some of the churches I've chosen are tiny, but special in their own way. One thing which certainly wont ingratiate a church to me is having to pay to get in. I get annoyed when you have to pay to get into a religious building, and doubly annoyed if you then can't take photos inside. If it's a place of worship it should be free, and if you're charging then it's a tourist attraction and you should be able to take photos. Cost wont knock a building off my list, but it also wont help its cause!! Finally I have to admit a lot of this will simply be my personal taste, and I make no apologies for that.

The Best Cathedrals in Europe

Duomo Milan
When I talk about a church or cathedral been the star attraction of a city this is exactly what I mean. As far as I can tell there's only three reasons to visit Milan, football, shopping, and this magnificent building. Now the bad news is that unless you get a fast track ticket which will set you back 25 euros you're in for a long wait before you get in. The good news is this ticket gets you everything from the roof above to the crypt below, and it's all wonderful.
We'll start with the obvious which is that the facade is absolutely stunning, this really is one of those cathedrals which makes you gasp when you see it the first time. The architecture is one of the best examples of Gothic work anywhere on the planet, and it's just absolutely beautiful inside and out. This cathedral is the 4th largest in Europe, and size does matter in these cases. Make sure while you're inside you visit the golden Madonna, which is a replica of the one that stands proud on top of the cathedral. 
Finally we have to talk about the roof, which will be the best you ever visit. It's covered in wonderful Gothic spires, and some of the best statues you'll ever see outdoors. Because you're not just walking around a tower, or a dome it feels much more relaxed and less likely to terrify you if you're scared of heights. This also allows you the opportunity to just sit down and take in the views. This is certainly one of the best cathedrals in Europe.
Lincoln Cathedral
There's a little bit of bias in this one with Lincoln been my hometown, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. Sitting on top of Steep Hill Lincoln Cathedral absolutely dominates the skyline for miles around. This is a real 14th century Gothic masterpiece, which spent more than 200 years as the tallest building in the world. I genuinely feel privileged to see this amazing building everyday.
The gorgeous vaulted ceiling inside is as good as you'll see anywhere in the world, and the stained glass windows are gorgeous. The real treat inside though is the Lincoln Imp, who legend says was turned to stone by an angel as he tried to destroy the cathedral. The views from the tower over Lincolnshire are exceptional, and on a clear day you can see for miles around. 
For more on Lincoln and Lincoln cathedral check out my full city guide here.
Sedlec Ossuary Kutna Hora
Well I did say that one of my criteria for a great church was that it was unique, and this one most certainly is. Sedlec Ossuary, better known as The Bone Church in Kutna Hora, just outside Prague, looks anything but exceptional from the outside, but take a look indoors and you'll soon see why it's on this list. This isn't just a bone church by name, it's a bone church by nature.
All the decorations inside the church from the chandeliers right through to the signature of the man responsible for this wonderfully macabre masterpiece are made from the bones of 60,000 peoples remains. Most of them died in the 14th century due to the plague, and were dug up a couple of hundred years later to create this amazing spectacle. I'm not going to pretend this church is for everyone, but it's truly unique, and truly brilliant.
For my full guide to Prague and Kutna Hora click here
Sagrada Familia Barcelona
Another truly unique church is Gaudi's still unfinished magnificent Sagrada Familia. Often mistaken for Barcelona Cathedral this Basilica is the symbol of Barcelona and arguably the greatest of Gaudi's works. It's another work of Gothic mastery, but with a twist. From a distance this looks like a normal cathedral which has had wax poured all over it, close up it's exquisite.
The detail in the sculptures are incredible, and that's just on the outside. To get in will cost you 20 euros, but as the price is going towards completing the Basilica it feels justified. Once you get through the queues you'll find a forest of pillars, some of the best stained glass windows in the world, and a lovely alter. This is a building which doesn't feel like it was created by human ingenuity, but rather grew organically from the ground up. Sagrada Familia may not be a cathedral but it's still one of the best churches in Europe.
For my full guide to Sagrada Familia and Barcelona click here.
Santa Croce Florence
Pretty much every other guide will tell you that Duomo is the main church in Florence, don't worry about that, every other guide is wrong. Firstly while Duomo looks amazing from the outside it's rubbish on the inside, secondly Santa Croce is much more important. It does cost 8 euros to get in, but it's worth it. ​This 14th century Gothic/Renaissance church is a sight to behold, and its importance to the city is often overlooked.
This is where all the Italian greats are buried, or at least have memorials. The illustrious names here include Galileo, Dante, Machiavelli, and all four Ninja turtles, may they rest in peace. The tombs are magnificent, as they should be given who's inside, and the Gothic/Renaissance architecture is beautiful. There's a real feeling that you are walking among the greats in Santa Croce. This truly is the great cathedral of Florence, even though it's much less well known. 
For my full Florence city guide click here
Westminster Abbey London
Another magnificent Gothic building which is wrongly seen as second to a cathedral with a giant dome is Westminster Abbey. This is the Santa Croce of the UK in that it's where all the big names are baptised, married, and buried, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawkin.
The Abbey cost £22 to get in which is just typical London prices really, but there are various ways to get in 2 for 1, I guess as it's over 1000 years old it probably needs quite a lot of maintenance. Sadly you aren't allowed to take photos inside so you'll just have to trust me that it's beautiful in there, and some of the tombs in particular are incredible. For sheer historical value Westminster Abbey is a must visit.
To read my full guide to Westminster Abbey and London click here.
St Stephen's Cathedral Budapest
There's a few reasons to love this building. Firstly the Neoclassical design is wonderful, secondly the views from the dome are great, and thirdly it's the proud owner of St Stephen's severed hand, which I'm sure you're all desperate to see.
I also enjoy that this building is exactly the same height as the magnificent Budapest Parliament building, this is designed to ensure equality between church and state. As these are comfortably the two tallest buildings in Budapest this also means you're guaranteed a great view from the top. The interior of this building is also one of the best you'll ever see, with the truly beautiful alter as the main centrepiece. This cathedral is one of the many reasons I love Budapest.
To read my full guide to St Stephen's Cathedral and Budapest click here. 
Seville Cathedral
Anyone who says size doesn't matter is probably lying, and that's just one of the reasons this monster of a Gothic cathedral gets in this list. This is the second biggest cathedral in the whole of Europe, so it's certainly a substantial building, and like most Gothic works it's also beautiful. The entrance fee of 10 euros includes access to the roof, which almost makes it acceptable to charge. The main tower is also really interesting as it's the old minaret of the mosque creating a fairly unique blend of architectural styles
There's a total of 80 chapels lining the expansive interior of the cathedral, and perhaps most importantly the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas, and the man more than partially responsible for nearly completely wiping out the indigenous population, a fact that is often overlooked on Columbus day in America. Leaving that to one side though the golden alter is exquisite, and the views from the roof are worth the entrance fee on their own. This really is one of Europe's great Gothic buildings. 
For my full Seville city guide click here
Chiesa San Michele, Capri
We're going for something a little unusual again with this one. Sat in Anacapri, the second city on the beautiful island of Capri, you'll find this wholly unimpressive church exterior, in fact if you weren't looking for it you'd almost certainly ignore it. I very nearly did. It's a small 18th century Baroque-ish church with no entrance fee, which on this list is a bit of a privilege. I'm directing you here for one reason, and one reason only, it has the best church floor I've ever seen. Yup it's made this list purely on the basis of the bit you walk on.  
Except here you aren't allows to walk on the floor, instead you have to stick to the wooden planks around the side in order to avoid doing any damage to this unique masterpiece. The scene depicted is of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, but it's easy to forget that when you notice that the animal in the centre is actually a unicorn. To get the best view of the floor you can go up a small staircase to a viewing gallery. It's a great view of something you may never see the likes of again.
For my full guide to Capri click here
Mosta Dome Malta
Another one of my less famous offerings for your approval is the massive Mosta Dome in Malta. There's two main reasons for it's inclusion, firstly look at it, that's one impressive dome, and secondly I enjoy the story that comes with the church. Lets deal with the aesthetics first... This is one of the best examples of 19th century Neoclassical churches you'll find anywhere. The exterior is intimidating, and the interior is gorgeous, this alone makes it worth a look, especially as there's no entrance fee. But really we need to talk about the bomb.
During the second world war the Nazis dropped 3 bombs on Mosta Dome, 2 bounced off the church, the third fell through mid congregation. The bomb failed to explode, and everyone survived. Naturally this is seen as a miracle, which kind of ignores that fact that around about 10% of all bombs dropped in WWII never exploded. To put this in context the odds of a bomb not exploding are about the same as the odds of getting two numbers in The National Lottery. But anyway miracle or not it's a lovely church, a nice story, and how often do you get to see a bomb in a church anyway?
For my full guide to Malta click here
The Pantheon Paris 
OK before anyone gets too mad at me for this I know technically the Pantheon isn't a church anymore, but it used to be, and in many ways still looks and acts like one. It's got the wonderful Neoclassical church look to it, it's got Christian symbolism aplenty, and it's got a crypt with the final resting places, or monuments to the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, and the Curies. It looks like a church, feels like a church, and has a crypt like a church, to my mind that's enough to allow it in. 
I also had the pleasure to visit while the work of Parisian street artist JR was on show including his stunning interior dome design. The faces are of everyday Parisians, who I'm sure are more than happy to have been immortalised here among the greats of France's past.
Sienna Cathedral
To read my full guide to Sienna click here.
OK I know this list already has a few Italian churches, and there's more to come, but they just do great churches, and great cathedrals so I make no apologies for going back time and time again. This is one of my real favourites, and because it's a little off the beaten track it's one you might not get to. However if you ever go to Florence or Pisa make sure you take a day trip to this wonderful town, and its stunning cathedral. ​This 14th century Gothic meets Romanesque masterpiece has the kind of facade you only ever see on the most ornate cathedrals, with several mosaics depicting Christian events above the three huge doors which beckon you inside.
The interior is among the very best you'll ever see, and is plastered with works of art and mosaics. Meanwhile the marble floor, with the depiction of Romulus and Remus is outstanding. However the absolute star of the show is the Piccolomini library. This is one of those few extraordinary rooms where you hear people gasp as they walk in. It's possible the single most beautiful room I've ever seen, and I've been to the Sistine Chapel. The library alone makes this one of the best cathedrals in Europe.
For my full guide to Sienna click here.
Christ Church Cathedral Dublin
For my full guide to Dublin click here.
Welcome to Dublin's first, and prettiest cathedral. As you'll know if you've read my Dublin guide I found it hard to separate this and St Patrick's cathedral in terms of importance, but for this guide I'm going to go on aesthetics and weirdness to let Christchurch on the list. The vaulted ceiling is excellent, as most vaulted ceilings are, while the exterior is just a nice simple, pretty church design. There's a nice blend of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, but none of these are reasons for Christchurch to be on my list.
The reason it gets on the list is that it's the final resting place of much loved cartoon characters Tom and Jerry. It appears that during one of their adventures Tom chased Jerry into one of the organ pipes where they both died. Their mummified remains are still on show today, sure it's not the most attractive thing you'll ever see, but it's a pretty weird thing to have in a cathedral, and I do like things to be unique. For my full guide to Dublin click here.
Berlin Cathedral
There's few better positioned cathedrals than this Neo-Renaissance beauty as it stands proud on the edge of the River Spree. It's the dominant force of the Berlin skyline, and Museum Island in particular. From the outside it's imposing, while the interior is wonderfully lavish, with the alter really standing out. There's a cost of 7 euros to get in, but just take that as the cost to go to the dome and get panoramic views of the amazing city.
For my full guide to Berlin click here.
San Miniato al Monte Florence
OK I think this will be the only one I do this for... San Miniato Al Monte is just an ordinary little Italian Romanesque church. It's a perfectly pretty little building, but with a lovely ornate graveyard for those of you who like that sort of thing, and I very much count myself as one of you. However that's not a good enough reason for this church to make the list... You'll have all seen the picture of Florence, you know the one, looking out over the city with the magnificent dome of Duomo, and the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, it's one of the best views in the world. That picture is nearly always taken from Piazzale Michelangelo, genuinely it's a great picture. What people don't realise is just above Piazzale Michelangelo is this church, and from here the view is even better. For me this view is more than enough reason to have San Miniato al Monte as one of the best churches in Europe.
For my full guide to Florence click here.
Nativity of Christ Cathedral Riga
This absolutely stunning cathedral would be much higher on my list if you could take photos inside, but you can't, and it's heartbreaking. It dates back to 1883 and is beyond doubt one of the prettiest Cathedrals you'll ever come across. Inside is a blue and gold paradise, the like of which I don't think I've seen anywhere else. Obviously the outside is pretty impressive, but honestly if you ever to to Riga you have to have a look in here.
For my full guide to Riga click here
Church of Our Lady Before Tyn Prague
Another perhaps slightly controversial choice for this list is the gorgeous Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is Prague. I say it's a controversial choice because most people would have probably gone with the wonderfully Gothic Prague Cathedral, but for me this ones just cooler. For a start it looks amazing towering over the main square with the famous astronomical clock the other side, but more impressive than that is the way it lights up like Hogwarts at night. This is a Gothic exterior at its very best.
For my full guide to Prague click here.
Salerno Cathedral Italy
On the face of it this is a pretty standard plain Norman cathedral, and when you initially step inside that impression wont really have changed much. However this 11th century building has something very special waiting for you... One of the most exquisite Baroque crypts you'll ever see. The centrepiece is The Black Madonna, behind which, should you choose to look for them, you'll find St Matthews teeth, which is weird even by relic standards. The whole crypt is absolutely lavish so please make sure you check it out if you ever go to the Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi region of Italy. For my full guide to Sienna click here.
Palma Cathedral Spain
What's not to like about Palma Cathedral? It's massive, it's Gothic, it completely dominates the Palma skyline, and Antonio Gaudi helped out a little bit. The alter in particular looks to have had a little Gaudi inspiration, and is slightly reminiscent of the Sagrada Familia. This really is a spectacular building.
To read my full guide to Palma click here.
Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, Kaunas, Lithuania
Hidden away in Lithuania's second city you'll find this gargantuan 15th century Gothic cathedral. The exterior may be a little plain, but don't let that put you off as the interior is spectacular. The walls are wonderfully painted, with lovely blues and whites, while works of art, sculptures, and frescoes line the walls. I've been to art galleries with less pieces in than this, it's absolutely magnificent, and rather unusually for something this special it's completely free to go in. 
For my full guide to Kaunas including possibly my all time favourite museum click here.
St Johns Co-Cathedral Valletta, Malta.
Another cathedral that looks a little shabby on the outside, but will absolutely blow you away on the inside is St John's Co-Cathedral in Malta. At 10 euros to get in it's fortunate that this is Baroque opulence at its absolute, sparkling gold best. For the art lovers among you you'll find Caravaggio's Beheading of John the Baptist in here, which is fitting as the cathedral is dedicated to him. If you like gold sparkly things you'll love this cathedral, so all magpies are welcome.
For my full guide to Malta click here
Santa Maria Glorisoa Dei Frari Venice
Welcome to another addition of it's not the most famous church in the city, but it's the best. In this case we have the gargantuan by name as well as nature Santa Maria Glorisoa Dei Frari. In a city famous for its churches, including the golden domed St Marks, this Gothic monster really stands out.  This magnificent building almost manages to double as an art gallery with works by Titan, Bellini, and Donatello, who was my favourite Ninja Turtle, decorating this huge space. However while all of this is enough to get the church on my list the thing that really makes it special is the zombies peering at you from the walls.
For my full guide to Venice click here.
Sacre-Coeur Paris
Had I not gone to Sacre-Coeur on a foggy, smoggy, damp day I'd be showing you photos of the amazing view you get over Paris from this 20th century beauty. Regardless of the weather though this is an exceptional basilica with a wonderful blue and gold interior. It's the most modern church on this list, which just goes to show we can still design great traditional buildings, not just monstrous skyscrapers. I just hope when you visit it's a nicer day. 
Duomo Florence
I thought long and hard about putting Duomo on this list, but in the end I decided I had too. Florence is one of my favourite cities, and the moment you know you've arrived is when you see the magnificent dome for the first time, so it has a special place in my heart. The facade is among the most spectacular you'll ever see, it's genuinely a thing of beauty. It's also free to enter Duomo, which is a relief because it has one of the most disappointing interiors in the world, which is why I have mixed feelings about it making the list. Sometimes though you just have to go with the heart.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to the best cathedrals and churches in Europe now it's just down to you to go visit them all.