Grand European Capitals and Cities Route

Afternoon

After checking in and dropping your bags, start at Praça do Comércio, Lisbon’s immense yellow riverfront square. Spend about 45 minutes walking beneath the arcades, looking toward the Tagus, and—if open—climbing the Arco da Rua Augusta for a rooftop view over Baixa. From here, walk uphill through Rua Augusta and across Rossio toward Alfama; allow roughly 20–25 minutes, or take tram 28E for the atmosphere, though it is often crowded and pickpockets are a concern.

Continue to Lisbon Cathedral, known locally as Sé de Lisboa, one of the city’s oldest buildings. Set aside 45 minutes to see the Romanesque interior and cloister; opening hours can vary around services, and admission is generally about €5. From the cathedral, follow the steep, winding lanes into Alfama to Miradouro de Santa Luzia. The viewpoint is especially lovely in the late afternoon, with traditional blue-and-white tiles, flowering balconies, and rooftops descending toward the Tagus. Wear shoes with good grip—the cobblestones are polished and slippery.

Evening

Walk uphill from Miradouro de Santa Luzia to Castelo de São Jorge, taking around 10 minutes. Give the castle about 1½ hours for its battlements, gardens, archaeological remains, and broad sunset views; in September, check the official closing time and try to arrive well before the last admission, with tickets typically around €15. When you come back down, head toward Cais do Sodré by taxi or rideshare—about 10–15 minutes—or use the metro from Rossio via the city center. Finish at Time Out Market Lisboa, where dinner is flexible and informal: expect roughly €20–35 per person for a few Portuguese dishes and drinks. It gets busiest from 19:30 onward, so arriving around 18:30–19:00 makes finding a communal table much easier.

Morning

After your early arrival in Madrid, head straight to Puerta del Sol, the city’s lively central meeting point and home to Kilometre Zero, the plaque marking Spain’s radial road network. Allow about 30 minutes to take in the clock tower, the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, and the constant flow of locals crossing the square. From here, walk five minutes through Calle Mayor to Plaza Mayor, where the arcaded façades and elegant lamps make the historic square especially atmospheric before the midday crowds arrive.

Continue a few minutes to Mercado de San Miguel for a late breakfast or early tapas lunch. It opens from late morning—typically around 10:00—and is convenient for grazing rather than sitting down to one long meal. Try a few small plates of jamón, grilled seafood, croquettes, or Spanish pastries; budget roughly €20–35 per person, and expect higher prices than at neighborhood bars. Go early if you want room to browse, as it becomes busy quickly.

Afternoon

After eating, walk west for about 10 minutes to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Reserve a timed entry in advance through the official website; the palace generally opens from 10:00, with seasonal closing times, and admission is usually around €14–18. Set aside two hours for the grand state rooms, armory, and ornate royal apartments—comfortable shoes help, since there is a fair amount of walking and security may involve a short queue. When you finish, step into the neighboring Sabatini Gardens for 45 minutes of quieter wandering among clipped hedges, fountains, and palace views. This is a good place to pause rather than add another museum immediately.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Take a taxi or ride-hailing car, usually 10–15 minutes depending on traffic, to the Museo Nacional del Prado in the Paseo del Prado district. If you arrive after 18:00, check the museum’s reduced or free-entry period—access rules and times can change—otherwise standard admission is generally about €15. With only two hours, focus on Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s The Third of May 1808, and works by El Greco, Rubens, and Bosch rather than trying to cover every gallery. Afterward, linger around Paseo del Prado or have dinner nearby; Madrid’s normal dinner hour is late, so many excellent restaurants begin filling around 20:30.

Morning

After arriving in Barcelona from Madrid, go straight to Sagrada Família in Eixample for your timed entry. Allow about two hours: the interior is best appreciated slowly, especially the forest-like columns, colored light, and views from the Nativity or Passion towers if your ticket includes one. Reserve ahead through the official site—standard admission is generally around €26–40, with tower access costing more. From the basilica, it’s an easy 10-minute walk along Avinguda de Gaudí to Hospital de Sant Pau, where you’ll spend roughly 90 minutes exploring the former hospital’s tiled courtyards, pavilions, and gardens. It usually opens from around 9:30, though hours and ticket prices vary by season; buy a combined or timed ticket online if available.

Afternoon

Take the metro from Sant Pau | Dos de Maig toward Passeig de Gràcia, or walk about 25 minutes if you want to see more of the Eixample grid. Continue to Casa Batlló for your afternoon visit, allowing 90 minutes for the imaginative rooms, sculpted roofline, and augmented-reality audio tour. Tickets commonly start around €35–45, and advance booking is worthwhile because this is one of the city’s busiest Gaudí sites. Afterwards, stroll down Passeig de Gràcia toward La Rambla—a pleasant route for window-shopping and architectural details—then spend the late afternoon at La Boqueria. Go beyond the entrance crowds and look for a counter serving fresh seafood, Iberian ham, or a simple plate of grilled vegetables; budget €15–30 per person, and note that many stalls wind down by early evening.

Evening

From La Boqueria, enter the Gothic Quarter through the lanes around Carrer de la Boqueria and Carrer del Bisbe. Give yourself about 90 minutes to wander without a strict route, finishing around Barcelona Cathedral and the quieter squares just behind it. The cathedral generally closes to visitors in the evening, but its exterior and surrounding medieval streets are atmospheric after the daytime crowds thin. For dinner, stay in the quarter or walk toward El Born for more relaxed restaurant choices; book if you want a proper table, since this is still a busy night out. Keep valuables secure on La Rambla and in packed metro cars, and wear comfortable shoes—the day involves considerably more walking than the distances between the headline sights suggest.

Morning

Start at Port Hercule in La Condamine, ideally around 9:30–10:00, when the harbor is calm and the waterfront is easiest to enjoy before the midday heat. Walk along Quai Albert Ier for views of the superyachts, steep cliffs, and the winding Formula 1 circuit. Allow about 45 minutes, then stroll uphill toward Monte Carlo; the route takes roughly 15–20 minutes, though the public elevators are useful if you want to avoid the steepest sections.

Spend late morning at Casino de Monte-Carlo, admiring the Belle Époque façade, Place du Casino, and the surrounding Hôtel de Paris architecture. The public areas and gaming rooms generally open from late morning, but access can vary, so check the official schedule; bring a passport or other photo ID, and expect an entrance fee of roughly €20–25 for the gaming rooms. Dress smartly—shorts, sportswear, and beach clothing are not suitable. For a quick coffee before leaving the square, Café de Paris is convenient, though it is better saved for dinner.

Afternoon and Evening

Take the public elevator or a short bus ride toward Larvotto Beach—bus routes 1 or 2 usually make this straightforward—and spend about 90 minutes by the water. The beach is public, with showers and changing facilities, while nearby cafés and beach restaurants make an easy light lunch stop; budget approximately €15–30 per person. From Larvotto, continue by bus or taxi to Monaco-Ville, allowing around 15–20 minutes. Set aside two hours for the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, dramatically perched above the sea. Its aquarium, Mediterranean galleries, and marine-life exhibits are best enjoyed at an unhurried pace; admission is commonly around €19–22, and opening hours vary by season, so reserve or verify online in advance.

Finish back at Le Café de Paris Monte-Carlo on Place du Casino for dinner, returning by bus or taxi in roughly 10–15 minutes. A table indoors gives you the classic polished setting, while the terrace is ideal for watching the square come alive after sunset. Expect about €40–70 per person before drinks; reservations are sensible in September, particularly for an early evening meal. Afterward, take a slow lap around the casino square—the illuminated facades and arriving cars are part of the Monaco spectacle.

Morning

After arriving in Milan, head straight to Duomo di Milano in the Centro Storico. Allow around two hours for the cathedral interior and rooftop terraces; the rooftop visit is the highlight, with close views of the marble spires and a wide panorama over the city. Reserve a timed ticket in advance through the official Duomo website—combined cathedral-and-rooftop tickets generally cost about €15–€30, depending on whether you choose the stairs or lift. Dress modestly for entry, and keep a little flexibility for security queues.

From the cathedral, walk two minutes through Piazza del Duomo to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Spend about 45 minutes beneath its enormous glass-and-iron roof, browsing the elegant shops and mosaics or pausing for an espresso at Marchesi 1824. It is free to enter, though the historic cafés are expensive; this is a good place for a quick coffee rather than a full breakfast. Continue north toward Teatro alla Scala, roughly a five-minute walk via Galleria and Via Manzoni, for a one-hour visit to the museum and theater interior. Check the official schedule before going, as rehearsals and performances can occasionally limit access; admission is usually around €12–€15.

Afternoon and Evening

Walk from Teatro alla Scala into Brera, one of Milan’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, using Via Brera as your route. Have a light lunch nearby—N’Ombra de Vin is a relaxed option for wine and small plates—then spend about two hours at Pinacoteca di Brera, where works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Mantegna, and other Italian masters are displayed in a handsome former palace. Tickets are typically around €15, and advance reservations are sensible, especially for the afternoon. Afterward, leave time to wander the lanes around Via Fiori Chiari and Via Madonnina rather than rushing straight to dinner.

For your evening meal, settle in at Trattoria Torre di Pisa, a long-established Brera favorite known for traditional Milanese cooking. Expect roughly €35–€60 per person; look for dishes such as risotto alla milanese, cotoletta, and seasonal antipasti, and reserve ahead if possible. The restaurant is an easy walk from the gallery, so you can finish the day close to where you started, with Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione available for a gentle post-dinner stroll if you still have energy.

Morning

After your early arrival from Milan, head straight to the Musée du Louvre for a focused three-hour visit. Use the Porte des Lions or Carrousel du Louvre entrance according to your timed ticket, and reserve in advance—September queues can still be long. Rather than attempting the entire museum, concentrate on the Denon Wing for the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo, then leave time for a few large-format French and Italian galleries. Tickets are generally around €22, with hours varying by day; check the official calendar carefully because the museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Lunch and Early Afternoon

Walk out toward the Jardin des Tuileries, taking about 10 minutes to reach the formal gardens. Spend 45 minutes beneath the clipped chestnut trees and around the octagonal ponds, continuing west toward the Seine. For a straightforward lunch nearby, try Le Fumoir on Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, or pick up a crêpe and picnic supplies around Rue de Rivoli. Then visit the Musée de l’Orangerie, where Monet’s vast Water Lilies panels are displayed in two oval rooms designed for quiet contemplation. Allow roughly 90 minutes and book a timed ticket if possible; combination tickets with other Paris museums can be worthwhile.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Take the Métro from Concorde toward Châtelet, or walk for about 25 minutes along the river to Île de la Cité. Spend an hour wandering the island’s quieter edges around Square du Vert-Galant and the Quai de l’Horloge, with views toward Notre-Dame and the Seine bridges. Access inside Notre-Dame is free when available, but entry arrangements and security can change, so treat the exterior walk as the dependable highlight. In the evening, ride Métro line 12 from Concorde to Pigalle for Bouillon Pigalle. Expect classic, inexpensive dishes such as steak-frites, œufs mayonnaise, and profiteroles for approximately €20–35 per person; the restaurant does not usually take reservations, so arrive before 19:00 or be prepared to queue. Afterwards, stroll the lively streets around South Pigalle rather than lingering on the busiest stretch of Boulevard de Clichy.

Morning

After your early arrival in Amsterdam, leave your bags at the hotel and head to the Rijksmuseum in the Museum. Reserve a timed ticket in advance; the museum is generally open from 9:00 to 17:00, with admission around €25. Give yourself about two and a half hours for the Gallery of Honour, where Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s delicate interiors are the highlights. Enter through the main atrium and keep the visit focused—trying to cover every gallery would leave you museum-fatigued before lunch.

From the museum, walk roughly 10 minutes south into Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s best place to decompress. Follow the paths past ponds and small bridges for about an hour, perhaps stopping at Groot Melkhuis for a coffee or light snack. It is an easy, pleasant transition from the formal museum to the city’s everyday rhythm, and September is usually ideal for a park walk.

Afternoon

Continue southeast toward De Pijp, about a 15-minute walk from the park, or take tram 3 or 12 if your feet need a break. Wander the neighborhood’s side streets around Gerard Doustraat and Ferdinand Bolstraat, browsing independent shops and settling into one of the relaxed cafés for lunch. Then spend an hour at Albert Cuyp Market, typically open Monday through Saturday from around 9:30 to 17:00. Try a warm stroopwafel, herring if you are feeling adventurous, or a portion of fresh fries; bring a card, but a little cash is useful at smaller stalls. The market can be busy, so keep valuables zipped away and avoid arriving right at closing time.

Evening

Take tram 3 or 7, or a taxi, east toward Oost for dinner at De Kas, a greenhouse restaurant in Park Frankendael. The ride from De Pijp usually takes 20–30 minutes depending on connections. Book well ahead—this is one of Amsterdam’s most sought-after dining rooms, and the fixed vegetable-focused menu, generally about €60–90 per person before drinks, changes with what is growing in the restaurant’s own greenhouse and garden. Allow around two hours for the meal, which makes a calm finish after a full day of art, walking, and market grazing.

Morning

After your early-afternoon arrival from Amsterdam, leave your bags at the hotel and head to Brandenburg Gate in Mitte. Even with the crowds, it is worth taking 30 minutes to walk around Pariser Platz, look down Unter den Linden, and notice how the gate’s history shifts from Prussian symbol to Cold War landmark to reunification icon. A short walk south brings you to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; allow about an hour to wander quietly through the uneven field of concrete stelae. The underground information center is free, but check its afternoon closing time—entry is usually allowed until around 18:00, with last admission earlier.

Midday and Afternoon

Take the U-Bahn from Brandenburger Tor or Potsdamer Platz toward Kochstraße—roughly 15–20 minutes—to reach the Topography of Terror in Kreuzberg. This excellent free documentation center occupies the former site of Nazi security institutions and usually opens from 10:00 to 20:00; give it 90 minutes, especially for the outdoor sections along the remaining Berlin Wall. Walk about 10 minutes north along Friedrichstraße to Checkpoint Charlie, where 30 minutes is enough to see the former crossing point and nearby historical displays. It is touristy and the surrounding souvenir shops are overpriced, but the site makes more sense after the museum. Later, take the U-Bahn or a taxi toward Warschauer Straße and spend the late afternoon walking the murals of the East Side Gallery—the 1.3-kilometer preserved wall section is free and takes about 90 minutes at an easy pace. Go toward sunset if possible; the light is softer and the crowds thin near the far end.

Evening

Finish at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg, about 15 minutes by U-Bahn and foot from Warschauer Straße. The covered market is generally open into the evening, though individual stalls vary, and it is best on its busy Thursday Street Food Thursday nights; on other evenings, check the weekly schedule before crossing town. Choose from rotating Berlin vendors—budget around €15–30 per person for a generous meal—and linger over a drink rather than rushing back out. If the market is closed or quiet, the surrounding Eisenbahnstraße and Wrangelkiez have plenty of casual Turkish, Middle Eastern, and modern German options.

Morning

After arriving from Berlin, drop your bags near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and take the U-Bahn to Baumwall; from there, it is about a 10-minute walk through Speicherstadt to Miniatur Wunderland. Aim for a 9:00 or 9:30 entry and allow roughly two and a half hours—the exhibition is far larger than it first appears, with especially charming sections recreating Scandinavia, the Alps, and Hamburg itself. Tickets are usually around €20–25, and timed reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and school holidays. Have a quick coffee at Kaffeerösterei Burg afterward, inside the historic warehouse district.

Spend the middle of the day wandering Speicherstadt, where red-brick warehouses, narrow waterways, and iron bridges make this one of Hamburg’s most atmospheric areas. Walk south toward HafenCity, taking your time along Pickhuben and the canals rather than following the main road. Stop for lunch at Küstenküche or choose something casual at Markthalle HafenCity; allow about an hour before continuing to the International Maritime Museum Hamburg. Housed in the former Kaispeicher B warehouse, the museum is open approximately 10:00–18:00 and costs around €15–20. Two hours is enough for a worthwhile visit, especially the ship models, navigation instruments, and displays on Hamburg’s trading history.

Afternoon and Evening

From the museum, walk about 15 minutes west through HafenCity to the Elbphilharmonie. Reserve a free Plaza ticket online if possible; the long escalator leads to an open viewing platform with excellent perspectives over the Elbe, container port, and harbor ferries. Give yourself an hour here, ideally in the late afternoon when the light softens. If you still have energy, take a short walk along the waterfront toward Überseeboulevard before heading to Fischereihafen Restaurant in Altona. The easiest route is the S-Bahn from Baumwall toward Altona, followed by a short bus or taxi ride; allow around 25–35 minutes. Reserve ahead for a table overlooking the river, and expect roughly €35–70 per person for traditional North German seafood. After dinner, linger outside by the Elbe—the harbor lights and passing ships are the perfect close to a very Hamburg day.

Morning

After your early arrival in Copenhagen, leave your bags at the hotel and begin at Nyhavn, where the brightly painted 17th-century houses line the canal. Come before 10:00 if you can; it is quieter, and the soft morning light is ideal for photographs. Allow about 45 minutes, then walk roughly 10 minutes through Frederiksstaden to Amalienborg. Spend an hour around the octagonal palace square and in the museum, usually open from around 10:00 to 16:00–17:00; admission is generally about DKK 125. If you arrive near noon, you may see the changing of the guard, though the ceremony is more elaborate on the monarch’s official flag days.

A two-minute walk brings you to Frederik’s Church, usually called the Marble Church. Give the pale-domed interior about 30 minutes, and check the day’s tower-tour schedule if you want a high view over the city; tower visits cost extra and are weather-dependent. Continue on foot for approximately 15 minutes toward Rosenborg Castle, passing quiet residential streets and small pockets of greenery in Kongens Have. Allow 90 minutes inside the castle for the royal apartments and crown jewels. Timed tickets are sensible in September, and the castle commonly closes around 16:00–17:00, with final entry earlier.

Afternoon and Evening

From Rosenborg Castle, walk about 10 minutes to TorvehallerneKBH near Nørreport for a relaxed late lunch. This covered market is a good place to graze rather than commit to a formal meal: try smørrebrød at Hallernes Smørrebrød, a pastry from Juno the Bakery, or something seasonal from one of the produce and seafood stalls. Budget roughly DKK 150–250 per person, and allow 90 minutes. Afterward, take the Metro from Nørreport to Kongens Nytorv, then change for Rådhuspladsen, or simply walk about 25 minutes through the center toward Vesterbro. Finish at Tivoli Gardens, entering in the late afternoon so you can enjoy the gardens in daylight before the lights come on. Set aside around three hours for the rides, concerts, and atmospheric paths; admission and ride access are often separate, so check the current ticket combination before buying. For dinner, eat inside Tivoli if convenience matters, or browse the food options around Vesterbrogade afterward—just remember that Tivoli’s September closing time varies by date, so confirm it when reserving.

Morning

After your early arrival, go straight to Vasa Museum on Djurgården—ideally for a 10:00 entry—before the island’s museums become busiest. Allow about two hours for the remarkably intact 17th-century warship and its exhibitions explaining why it sank on its maiden voyage. Admission is roughly SEK 195 for adults; check the official site for timed-entry availability. From Stockholm Central Station, tram 7 or bus 67 takes around 15–20 minutes, while the Djurgården ferry from Slussen is a more atmospheric alternative if operating conveniently. A five-minute walk through the park brings you next to Skansen, Sweden’s open-air museum, where you can spend about two hours among historic houses, workshops, Nordic animals, and seasonal cultural displays. Tickets are generally around SEK 220–285, with prices varying by date.

Afternoon

Have a light lunch at Skansen’s Gubbhyllan or pick up something simple before leaving Djurgården; you will want to keep the afternoon flexible. Take tram 7 toward T-Centralen, change for the red line to Slussen, and walk roughly 10 minutes down Folkungagatan to Fotografiska in Södermalm. Give the museum about two hours for its rotating contemporary photography exhibitions, and take time at the café or restaurant level for the broad harbor view. Admission is usually around SEK 195–245. In the late afternoon, walk uphill toward Monteliusvägen—the route through Mariaberget is steep in places but charming—and follow the cliffside path for about 45 minutes. The panorama toward Riddarholmen, Stockholm City Hall, and Lake Mälaren is particularly good in the softer evening light; wear shoes with decent grip, as parts of the path are uneven.

Evening

Finish at Östermalms Saluhall, reached most simply by taking the red metro line from Slussen to Östermalmstorg. The historic market hall is a relaxed place to sample Swedish cooking without committing to a formal tasting menu: look for cured fish, meatballs, shellfish, Västerbottensost, or a seasonal plate at one of the established counters. Budget approximately SEK 250–450 per person, and check the day’s closing time—many stalls wind down around 19:00 or 20:00, with later hours on some evenings. If you arrive after the counters have closed, the surrounding Östermalm streets have several good restaurants, but booking ahead is wise for a Friday or Saturday.

Morning

After your early arrival from Stockholm, leave your bags at the hotel and make your way to Marienplatz in Altstadt-Lehel. Aim for around 11:30, when the square is lively but still comfortable for exploring. Spend about 45 minutes admiring the elaborate façade of the Neues Rathaus; if your timing catches the 11:00 or 12:00 performance, the Glockenspiel’s moving figures are worth seeing, though the square itself is the main pleasure. A short walk across the square brings you to Frauenkirche, whose twin domes are one of Munich’s defining silhouettes. Allow 30 minutes inside, keeping voices low and shoulders covered; the cathedral is generally open during daytime visiting hours, although services can restrict access.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk roughly five minutes south to Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s best place for a relaxed, informal lunch. Browse the stalls before choosing something substantial—try a Weisswurst breakfast-style sausage, roast pork, Leberkäse, or a pretzel with mustard—and expect to spend about €15–30 per person. The market is usually open Monday through Saturday from morning until early evening, but individual stalls keep their own schedules. After lunch, continue about ten minutes to the Residenz München. Reserve a combination ticket if available and allow two hours for the richly decorated rooms, especially the Antiquarium and ceremonial apartments. The palace is large and easy to underestimate, so comfortable shoes and a timed entry are useful; admission is commonly around €10–20 depending on the areas visited.

Late Afternoon and Evening

From the Residenz, take the U-Bahn from Odeonsplatz toward Universität, then walk into the English Garden for an hour and a half. Stop first at the Eisbachwelle, where surfers ride the permanent wave beside Prinzregentenstraße—spectacular to watch, but not a safe place for casual swimming. Continue along the shaded paths toward the park’s streams and meadows, leaving time simply to sit with a drink or wander without a fixed route. Finish at Augustiner-Keller in Maxvorstadt, reached by tram or a pleasant 20-minute walk from the southern end of the park. Arrive around 19:00 if you want a quieter table, and order classic Bavarian dishes such as schnitzel, roast pork, or käsespätzle with Augustiner beer; budget approximately €25–45 per person. Reservations are sensible for dinner, particularly on a Saturday, though the beer garden is often more flexible in good weather.

Morning

After your early arrival from Munich, leave your bags at the hotel and make Tower Hill your first stop. Aim for a 9:00 opening at the Tower of London, allowing about two and a half hours for the Crown Jewels, medieval interiors, and riverside walls. Book a timed ticket in advance—admission is usually around £35–£40—and enter as soon as you arrive, since the Crown Jewels develop long queues later in the morning. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street followed by a short walk or one stop on the Underground is usually simplest; from Gatwick, take the Thameslink to London Bridge and continue by Tube or walk.

Cross Tower Bridge on foot, then follow the Thames Path west through Shad Thames toward Borough Market, roughly 25 minutes at an easy pace. Give yourself about 90 minutes for lunch: look for grilled cheese at Kappacasein, raclette at The Raclette Bar, or something seasonal from the rotating stalls, with £15–30 per person a realistic budget. The market is generally busiest around lunchtime and is usually closed Sundays, so keep some flexibility if a particular stall has a queue.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, walk 10 minutes along the river to Tate Modern, entering through the former power-station Turbine Hall. Spend around two hours with the permanent collection and whichever temporary exhibition interests you; the main collection is free, while special exhibitions commonly cost £15–25. Then cross Millennium Bridge—one of the best skyline walks in the city—and continue about 10 minutes to St Paul’s Cathedral. Allow 90 minutes to see the nave, crypt, and Wren’s dome galleries; the climb to the Stone and Golden Galleries is worthwhile for the view, but check the final admission time and expect a ticket around £25–£26. Finish with a relaxed hour at Somerset House, reached in about 15 minutes by walking through Fleet Street and down The Strand. Its courtyard, terraces, and cultural exhibitions make an easy final stop; the complex is free to enter, though evening gallery events may require separate tickets. If your energy holds, settle nearby for a drink along The Strand rather than adding another major sight.