best travel city in europe

35 Best Cities to Visit in Europe (Bucket List for City Lovers!)

A complex, interesting, beautiful city is among the most remarkable kinds of places we can experience in our lifetimes, and there’s no doubt that the best cities to visit in Europe rank among the absolute best in the world.

There’s something magical about cities: the best ones have a life all their own, made up of the millions of moments lived and stories told in (and about) them each and every day.

I truly believe that there’s a city for every personality when traveling, even for those who don’t consider themselves “city people”, so to speak, in their day-to-day lives.

Once upon a time, we didn’t think we loved cities… and then we fell in love with traveling.

We’ve since moved to Europe, and picked a beautiful city (Lisbon) as our home base.

We’ve rounded up the best cities to visit in Europe, from the absolute icons to smaller gems tucked in quiet(er) corners of the continent.

No matter what kind of European city you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.

Table of Contents

Once You Narrow Down Your Dream Cities in Europe…

The most iconic cities to visit in europe, other best cities to visit in europe (that are slightly less iconic), best small cities to visit in europe, more cool cities to add to your europe bucket list.

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If you’re ready to start planning your trip in more detail after reading this guide to the best cities in Europe, consider checking out our guide to planning a trip to Europe next!

We also have a detailed guide to train travel in Europe , a guide to the best European road trips , several packing lists for Europe , and a roundup of the best travel tips for Europe here on Our Escape Clause that might help kickstart your general planning.

In addition, we’ve also written about most of these European cities in more detailed guides!

We’ll link relevant blog posts throughout this list of the best cities to visit in Europe, if you’re curious about our coverage of any particular city, you can use the search bar in the top right corner of the site to see what we’ve written.

These cities almost need no introduction: woven into our collective culture, from books to movies to historical stories, the most iconic cities to visit in Europe are certainly all well worth the trip to reach them. 

As one of the most visited cities on the planet, Paris tops plenty of Europe bucket lists around the world, and even travel bucket lists more generally.

Home to the iconic Eiffel Tower, the world’s largest art museum at the Louvre (not to mention the hundreds of other incredible museums in Paris), legendary cuisine, and plenty of other highlights like Notre Dame, Montmartre , and the beloved banks of the Seine, Paris is absolutely one of the best cities to visit in Europe.

The capital of the United Kingdom and once the seat of the most powerful empire in the world, London is positively packed with an interesting history and iconic sites.

However, London also feels like an extremely modern city, allowing for visitors to put together an excellent London bucket list that includes historical attractions like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square , right alongside the bustling Theatre District (London has one of the best theater scenes in the world).

Plus, for millennials like us, London is home to the Harry Potter Studio Tour and plenty of other related sights–not to mention plenty of Harry Potter-themed gifts and souvenirs to shop for!.

It’s a close race, but on more days than not, we consider Rome to be our absolute favorite city in the world.

Nicknamed the Eternal City, Rome has a captivating quality of impressing upon you its endurance, its consistency, and its strength with every street explored and monument admired.

Home to icons like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain as well as equally impressive spots that are nearly devoid of tourists, exploring Rome, and peeling back its layers one by one, can easily be a lifelong project.

Gaudi, beaches, and the Gothic Quarter : unique and fascinating Barcelona is an incredibly popular place to kick off European adventures!

With its colorful neighborhoods, coastal location, thriving city center, and utterly unique architecture, it’s not hard to see why.

Of course, the most famous landmark in Barcelona , its basilica La Sagrada Familia, remains incomplete: construction began in 1882 and is currently projected to wrap up in 2026!

With its stunning architecture primarily dating to the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age and its many canals juxtaposed with its modern reputation for partying, visiting Amsterdam can often feel like visiting a city of extremes.

Whichever part of the city appeals to you, Amsterdam is certainly worth visiting .

As one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe and one of the most unique cities in the world, Amsterdam lives up to its reputation as a compelling and incredibly beautiful place to visit.

Want to ditch (some of) the infamous crowds?

Consider bundling up and visiting Amsterdam in winter !

Venice is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the most unique cities in the world–so of course it also ranks among the best cities to visit in Europe!

Venice’s mere existence is improbable.

Made up of 118 islands divided by 150 canals and then knitted together by 400 footbridges, Venice’s topography is like nowhere else.

Once a powerful empire that controlled the seas all the way to Crete and held the title of the wealthiest city in Europe, Venice’s 13th-century peak can still be felt in certain places today, including in its iconic Piazza San Marco , in its ornate palaces, and along its gorgeous bridges.

Before visiting, we were Venice skeptics–but less than a day into our first trip there, we were completely smitten with Venice.

Now, we can’t imagine that we’ll ever stop going back!

Byzantium, Constantinople, New Rome: Istanbul has had many names throughout its more than 2500 years of history, and today it is celebrated as one of the most unique cities in the world.

With one of the longest and most complicated histories of any of these cities in Europe, Istanbul is actually, technically, only half European.

One half of the city lies on the European continent, and the other half, located an easy ferry ride across the Bosphorus Strait, is located in Asia.

In addition to being able to visit two continents in a single day, the top things to do in Istanbul include touring the phenomenal Hagia Sophia, shopping in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, admiring the Blue Mosque, and enjoying the views from the top of the Galata Tower.

Emphasis on slightly less iconic: these cities are still easily among the most popular cities to visit in Europe.

Unlike some of the longstanding icons above, though, many of these European cities gained (or regained) popularity on the tourism circuit at some point within the last few decades.

In our slightly biased opinion, as it’s one of our personal favorites, Budapest easily ranks among the top ten best cities to visit in Europe.

Set on the Danube, with its iconic Parliament nestled right up against the river and majestic architecture rising on both sides of the river, Budapest is simultaneously incredibly regal and beautiful, and incredibly laid-back and affordable.

Known for its compelling history, thermal baths that dot the city, stunning architecture, and engaging nightlife, there is an overwhelming number of things to do in Budapest !

And, it packs plenty of variety in, too: in Budapest, you can have breakfast in a luxurious coffee shop in the morning, explore the city’s caves and thermal baths in the afternoon, and then relax at a ruin pub in the evening–and that’s just within the first day!

Known as the City of a Hundred Spires, Prague absolutely looks the part of the quintessential European city, all ornate buildings framed by a winding river and overlooked by the majestic Prague Castle.

Once known as an offbeat European city to visit, the Prague of today is immensely popular (with the crowds to match, especially during the height of summer), but it is still absolutely magical to visit.

Be sure to meander your way across the Charles Bridge, explore the Prague Castle, admire the Old Town Square, and drink plenty of that famous Czech beer while visiting Prague .

And yes, the legend is true: at some restaurants, the beer is indeed cheaper than water!

Less popular with foreign tourists than colorful Barcelona, but no less captivating, Spain’s capital city is simultaneously regal and relaxed.

Home to incredible sights like the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, and gorgeous Plaza Mayor, spending a few days in Madrid means having a chance to experience fantastic food, incredible art, and a hearty dose of Spanish culture.

Madrid’s biggest park, El Retiro, is among our favorite urban parks in all of Europe, and definitely belongs on your list of things to do in Madrid !

As the largest city (and airport hub) on the French Riviera, Nice is both busy and beautiful.

In other words, Nice is exactly what you would hope for from a coastal city that boasts one of the most iconic urban beaches in the world!

A visit to Nice practically requires spending some time on the beach and a taking stroll along the picturesque Promenade des Anglais, of course, but there are plenty of other fun things to do in Nice as well.

While you’re there, be sure to climb Castle Hill, check out the Sun Fountain, and enjoy the colorful architecture of the old town.

Nice is also perfectly placed to use as a base for incredible day trips, including to nearby Monaco, Eze, St. Paul de Vence, and Menton.

To be perfectly frank, Athens doesn’t rank among the most beautiful cities in Europe as far as we’re concerned… but it’s still one of the best cities in Europe to visit.

Greece’s capital is often used as a gateway to its (rightfully) famous islands, but the city itself absolutely deserves to be explored as well.

Athens is home to some of the most famous Greek ruins in the world, including the phenomenal Acropolis (where you’ll find the Parthenon) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Ancient Greece is only the beginning of the story, though!

You’ll also find trendy neighborhoods like Plaka and incredible museums like the National Archaeological Museum when exploring Athens.

And, quite honestly, even if there was nothing else to do there, it would be worth visiting Athens just to eat enormous amounts of Greek food .

If there’s one word that comes to mind for describing Vienna, it’s regal.

From the world-famous opera house to the Hofburg Palace to the glitz and glamour of Vienna’s cafe culture, Vienna gives the impression of wealth, strength, and beauty at every turn.

This is hardly an accident: as the seat of the Hapsburgs for around 600 years, Vienna definitely shows signs of being ruled by a fairly modern empire.

For example, while other European city centers frequently maintain a good portion of their small streets and medieval architecture, wide swaths of Vienna’s were cleared away in favor of wide boulevards and sweeping avenues.

If you’re not sure when to visit Vienna, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better time than during the holiday season.

Not only is the cafe culture particularly lovely when it’s cold outside, but Vienna’s Christmas markets are among the best in Europe , and the perfect way to kick off a Christmas trip in Austria !

Canals, cyclists, and hygge: these are just a few of the delightful things you’ll find in Copenhagen.

Denmark’s capital city is known for its many cyclists, its beautiful canals and picturesque harbor (Nyhavn), and recently, its extreme culture of coziness.

Hygge, a word that means something approximating coziness and contentment, is a large feature of Copenhagen.

Since the word has been popularized in popular culture worldwide, even more travelers flock to Copenhagen not just to snap photos at Nyhavn or determine for themselves if the Little Mermaid Statue is, in fact, as underwhelming as they say, but to experience Danish hygge for themselves.

And, while hygge and a northern climate may not be words that bring “beach trip” to mind, Copenhagen’s picturesque location also makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with beaches !

The capital of Bavaria is definitely known best for one thing on the tourism circuit: its incredible Oktoberfest celebration that draws travelers from across the globe.

Even outside of the annual festival, though, Munich remains one of the best cities to visit in Europe.

While there, check out Marienplatz and the gorgeous Munich Residence, as well as the Nymphenburg Palace and (at least) one of the city’s fun beer gardens.

Munich is also within day-tripping distance of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle , so if you have a few days to spend in the area, consider escaping to the Bavarian countryside for a day!

Germany’s capital city may not be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, but it is an incredibly interesting one.

It’s well worth experiencing at least a few days in Berlin to get a feel for this unique European city.

Known today primarily for its intense Cold War history and its quirky, artistic culture, Berlin is packed with interesting sights and things to do.

While in Berlin, be sure to check out the famous Brandenburg Gate, see the Reichstag Building, and, of course, see the remains of the Berlin Wall and accompanying memorials.

For great views of the city, consider heading up the Berlin TV Tower, and to see the city’s best museums, head to Museum Island.

Scotland’s stunning capital city is easily one of the best cities to visit in Europe and one that captures the adoration and imagination of most who visit it.

With hints of fairytale magic in the air (helped along, no doubt, by the city’s ties to Harry Potter lore), Edinburgh is packed with fun things to do.

During your visit, be sure to stroll down Royal Mile, admire the views from Arthur’s Seat and Calton Hill, and enjoy Edinburgh Castle.

Travelers who love the arts may want to plan their visit for August when the Edinburgh Fringe Festival takes over the city.

Fair warning, though: prices in the city absolutely skyrocket during the festival!

If you’re hoping to see a smaller city in Europe, then these cities in Europe might be for you!

In most of these cities, you can enjoy most of the major tourist attractions in only a couple of days or less and/or more or less exclusively tour the city on foot.

As the capital city of Alsace, Strasbourg is a unique delight of a city nestled in northeastern France and is a gateway to the famed Alsace Wine Route, glorious mountains, and the charming, colorful smaller villages of Alsace.

The region of Alsace was once held by Germany, and the result is that in Strasbourg you can find hints of German influences among the French culture, all blended together to create the unique Alsatian culture you will find in the city today.

Croatia’s most famous city has risen to international stardom in recent years, in large part thanks to its role as King’s Landing on Game of Thrones, but this bite-sized coastal city is a magical place to visit even for those who have never seen a single episode of the show.

Dubrovnik’s crown jewel is its intact town walls that still encircle the old town, where you can walk fully around the city, with the terracotta rooftops of Dubrovnik glistening on one side and the shimmering Adriatic Sea on the other.

While visiting Dubrovnik , be sure to also check out the view from Mount Srd, the views from the Lovrijenac Fortress, and, if you’re up for a bit of a physical challenge, a kayaking tour to Lokrum Island!

As the Cradle of the Renaissance and one of the most popular places to visit in Europe, you might expect Florence to be a large city, but no.

Travelers can easily walk the bulk of the historic center, and some of the areas beyond it, in just a couple of days–no other transportation is necessary!

Florence is an endlessly beautiful city, and so packed full of world-class artwork that the city is almost a work of art unto itself.

From the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to the incredible masterpiece that is Michelangelo’s David to the Ponte Vecchio to all the treasures of the Uffizi Museum, looking at Florence is like looking at Renaissance-era art, architecture and engineering come to life. 

Nestled in southwestern Germany, the small university city of Heidelberg is far from the most popular city to visit in Germany, but it absolutely deserves to make the list.

Set on the beautiful Neckar River and overlooked by the impressive Heidelberg Palace, Heidelberg looks every bit the part of a fairytale-esque small European city.

And it’s not just modern visitors and the students who flock to study at Heidelberg University who understand the magic of Heidelberg: Mark Twain was inspired by the city and spoke of it very fondly after spending a summer living there.

In fact, according to some accounts, the idea for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was conceived thanks to the Neckar River.

While that’s partially inaccurate, there’s no doubt that Twain was captivated by the beauty of Heidelberg!

When travelers plan a trip to Slovenia, it’s rare that the charming capital of Ljubljana tops the list of what they hope to see.

And that’s understandable: it’s hard to beat the majesty of Lake Bled, the beauty of Triglav National Park, or the adorable seaside beauty of Piran .

That being said, though, Ljubljana itself is also a great place to spend a couple of days in Slovenia.

Not only is it conveniently located within day-tripping distance of ever-popular Bled, it’s a fun city to experience in its own right.

Home to the lovely Ljubljana Castle, the fascinating street-art-covered neighborhood of Metelkova, the quirky Dragon Bridge, and colorful Preseren Square–not to mention plenty of charming cafes and delicious restaurants–Ljubljana is an easy European city to love.

As the hometown of Mozart and as a city surrounded by hills that are alive with The Sound of Music, charming Salzburg, Austria is easily one of the best cities to visit in Europe.

Regardless of whether you choose a sunshine-and-blooming-flower-filled summer trip or a festive Christmas market trip, Salzburg is bound to charm!

Overlooked by the striking Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg is a feast for the eyes.

It’s also home to highlights like the beautiful Mirabell Palace (known, among other things, for its status as a filming location for The Sound of Music), the incredible Salzburg Cathedral, and both Mozart’s Birthplace and later Residence, and is an incredibly fun city to visit.

Located in southern Poland, Krakow is best known on the tourism circuit for its proximity to two things that lay entirely outside the city: Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

While both of those places are worth visiting (and in the case of Auschwitz-Birkenau, arguably very important to experience if you’re in the area and feel up to a very emotional day), the charming city of Krakow itself is also home to interesting sights that make it one of the best city breaks in Europe.

Be sure to explore the impressive Wawel Castle as part of your trip to Krakow, as well as St. Mary’s Basilica, Town Hall Tower, and, of course, a milk bar or two to enjoy classic Polish pierogi.

The prettiest city in Belgium (in our opinion, anyway) is bite-sized and beautiful, easy to cover in just a day or two, and absolutely gorgeous from every angle–though if you ask us, its best angle is from the water during a canal cruise.

While visiting Bruges, consider climbing to the top of the Belfry for incredible views, seeking out the beautiful Bonifacius Bridge, enjoying a canal cruise, checking out the colorful Market Square, stopping by the Basilica of Holy Blood, and relaxing at Minnewater Park.

As a small and incredibly popular European city to visit, Bruges can feel crowded at times–but by planning a winter trip , you can experience (somewhat) reduced crowd levels.

It may be a bit of a stretch to include an entire country of roughly 33,000 people on a list of the best cities to visit in Europe, but San Marino is worth making a slight exception for.

Styled as the oldest republic in Europe (founding date: 301 AD) and simultaneously the least-visited country in Europe, San Marino is an absolutely gorgeous (though yes, quite small) country that is entirely surrounded by Italy.

Featuring castle and countryside views from Mount Titano that are worthy of any fairytale and very interesting history (you can stroll right into Parliament to check it out–no tour necessary), San Marino is definitely well worth a visit! 

While you can take a San Marino day trip from Bologna , it’s a fun place to see at night (once the day-trippers leave) as well.

Nicknamed the Venice of the Alps, the beautiful city of Annecy, France, is located less than an hour south of Geneva and features beautiful views of Lake Annecy (considered the cleanest lake in Europe), delicious Alpine cuisine (including all kinds of amazing cheese), and stunning canals.

The combination of Annecy’s incredible gastronomy, colorful old town surrounded by canals, and crisp Alpine air make it one of the best city breaks in Europe.

While Annecy is a popular day trip from Geneva, this small city is worth enjoying for at least a couple of days if you can spare the time.

If you can, schedule your trip to Annecy to coincide with at least one market day.

Fridays and Sundays are the biggest market days of the week, but there is a smaller market that takes place on Tuesdays as well.

Surrounded by medieval walls dating to the Saxons, and then by the Carpathian mountains beyond that, Brasov is an incredibly beautiful city to visit in the heart of Transylvania, and definitely deserves to feature on any trip to the region!

Must-see sights include the impressive Gothic-style Black Church, both the Black and White Towers, the views from Tampa Mountain, and the charming Council Square.

And, though it’s not within the city itself, we can’t mention Brasov without mentioning Bran Castle.

This infamous castle is located about a 30-minute drive away and is an absolutely incredible sight (though, fair warning: the Dracula connections are nothing by myth).

Set less than an hour away from Florence by train, Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, and is absolutely beautiful, packing in gorgeous Italian architecture and plenty of museums in its small size.

The biggest reason to visit, though, isn’t its beauty: it’s the food.

Bologna is one of the absolute best cities to visit in Europe for foodies.

As the capital of Emilia-Romagna, you can thank the region surrounding Bologna for mortadella (the original and far superior version of what non-Italians call bologna), parmigiano-reggiano, traditional balsamic vinegar, and tagliatelle al ragu (aka pasta bolognese)… just to name a small sliver of its delicacies.

Even with one day in Bologna , you can eat extremely well, see several of the most popular attractions, and even seek out a few hidden gems like the city’s canals.

Away from bustling capital cities and world-icon status, Europe boasts hundreds of other incredibly cool, lesser-visited cities that are still absolutely worthy of being considered one of the best cities to visit in Europe.

Here are just a few of them–consider mixing a couple of these into your Europe bucket list along with the more iconic options above!

As the capital of Spain’s southern Andalucia region, beautiful Seville is known for its stunning architecture (including its magnificent cathedral), its many orange trees that bloom in the summer, its flamenco culture, its seemingly endless sunshine (and heat), its beautiful Alcazar, and its photo-worthy Plaza de Espana.

It’s also known for acting as a filming location for two of the most famous franchises around!

The Alcazar played the Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones, and the Plaza de Espana was featured as the city of Theed in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

Seville is also an excellent launchpad for a full Andalucia road trip !

The capital of Serbia is definitely one of the least-visited of the European cities rounded up in this travel guide, but it certainly deserves more attention.

Colorful, historic, and incredibly affordable, Belgrade is a fun and invigorating city that is absolutely packed with things to do .

While you’re there, be sure to check out the gorgeous Church of Saint Sava, the Belgrade Fortress, and the Knez Mihailov shopping street.

If you have a few days to spend in Belgrade, consider also adding on a day trip to colorful, nearby Novi Sad!

With its waterfront setting, steep hills, iconic trams, and gigantic red suspension bridge, Lisbon draws a lot of comparisons to San Francisco–but luckily, a trip to Lisbon is far more affordable.

Colorful and laid-back, Lisbon’s architecture is beautiful, its culture warm and inviting, and its attractions beautiful, making it one of the best cities in Europe to visit.

While you’re there, be sure to stroll through the historic neighborhood of Alfama, ride the popular Tram 28 past beautiful views (or at least snap photos of it going by), admire the city from a couple of different miradouros (viewpoints) check out the Time Out Market, and enjoy the sunset along the Tagus River.

Be sure not to leave without eating a dozen or so pasteis de nata, either!

Hilly, crowded, chaotic Naples is certainly a bit controversial among these best cities to visit in Europe–people tend to either love or hate it–but as we adore it, we want to include it here.

Built on the coast of Campania and boasting phenomenal views of Mount Vesuvius from its shores, Naples is an absolutely dynamic city.

Its streets are generally packed, its salesmen a bit more intense than those further north in Italy, and yes, it is a bit dirtier and rougher around the edges than Florence or Venice. 

However, it’s also gorgeous–places like the San Carlo Theater, Piazza del Plebiscito, and Galleria Umberto I are all beautiful–and incredibly interesting.

Features like the Bourbon Tunnel, Naples Underground, Castel Nuovo, and Naples Archaeological Museum are all incredible places to visit, and even if you don’t find Naples’ environment or attractions quite to your taste, there’s always its world-famous pizza to grab (and hold) your attention.

With incredible day trip options like Pompeii  and the legendary Amalfi Coast , you sure can’t beat its location, either!

Estonia’s small-yet-stunning capital city has long been under the radar as far as tourism is concerned, but luckily, that is starting to change.

With a beautiful cityscape right on the water, affordable prices, and plenty of fun things to do (be sure to add checking out the views from Toompea Hill and strolling through the hipster haven of Telliskivi Creative City to your list of things to see), Tallinn is a fantastic city to explore for a few days.

Once you wrap up, you can even travel by boat to easily extend your trip to another country!

Helsinki, Finland is only about 2 hours away from Tallinn by ferry.

Portugal’s “second city” has been gaining in popularity in recent decades, but still remains somewhat under-the-radar when compared to busy Lisbon.

Set on the Duoro River, Porto is known for its gorgeous, colorful architecture, churches covered in gorgeous azulejos (Portuguese hand-painted tiles), its dramatic views, and–most of all–for its port!

Once upon a time, the famous port grown in the nearby Duoro Valley was floated down the river to Porto, and today, you can still tour traditional port houses along the banks of the river (complete with tastings, of course).

Less visited than Florence or Milan , and yet stunningly beautiful, Verona is set in southern Veneto, nestled on the banks of the Adige River.

Home of a remarkably well preserved Roman amphitheater, amazing views, and the legend of Romeo and Juliet, Verona is as captivating as it is beautiful.

Be sure to enjoy the views from the Castel San Pietro and the Torre dei Lamberti as part of your visit.

And, if you’re up for a bit of adventure, consider taking a whitewater rafting trip down the Adige!

As the second-largest city in Norway and nicknamed the Heart of the Fjords, Bergen doesn’t generally top European bucket lists (at least for those of us that hail from outside the continent)–but perhaps it should.

Featuring highlights like the traditional wooden houses of Bryggen, a bustling fish market, and sweeping views from Mount Fløyen, Bergen makes for a fantastic introduction to Norway.

As the gateway to Norway’s incredible fjord beauty and home to what is arguably one of the most picturesque harbors in Europe, stunningly beautiful Bergen definitely ranks among the best cities to visit in Europe!

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

31 thoughts on “35 Best Cities to Visit in Europe (Bucket List for City Lovers!)”

No Plovdiv or Sofia or Veliko Tarnovo. It is not a good enough list. ?

If I ever expand this list to 50, at least Sofia will make the list! Sofia holds a special place in our hearts, we’ve spent months there visiting good friends of ours.

Add all of Ireland to this list ?

Birmingham England

Birmingham is very much a cultural hotspot in the uk. It has lovely Victorian industrial buildings and has more miles of canal than Venice.

Most depressing soulless sprawled out place I’ve ever lived

What about Dublin??? Great atmosphere, great people, great history Cork, Kilkenny and Galway for smaller cities!

Bucharest is also a very beautiful city, once called “little Paris”!

In agreement with all of the listings even living on two of them! I would add Siena to the list of small cities to visit

We love Siena! It’s definitely a fantastic place to visit.

Siena is beautiful but I think Lucca is better!

Lucca is one of my favorites too! Tried to keep the level of Italy in check on this post, LOL, but I could easily do a whole list of only Italian cities, too. 🙂

Worth expanding the list. Need Wales, perhaps Conway, more Spain for example Caceres, Burgos, what of the lovely Island of Crete – Xania? And surely can’t miss Brittany and San Malo. Actually this is impossible….. Expand to 100 and leave out the iconic cos people know them? Be so good to have loads more of less well known.

Also ireland and Northern Ireland as Belfast portstewart portrush and some Irish cities

Surprised none of Switzerland’s cities are in there. I loved Lucerne and Zurich. Magical feeling walking around both cities.

I would also include Stockholm, Helsinki, Dublin, Moscow, and Oslo. Vienna, Amsterdam, Bruges and Lisbon are in my modest opinion quite overrated cities.

I disagree about Vienna and Dublin but agree about Moscow and Lisbon

Stockholm is so boring.

Budapest and Vienna Salzburg or Brussels with Brugees? This a real question. After 2 years in quarauntine we want to explore Europe. (Budapest first time )

Very hard decision! They’re all wonderful in their own way.

If we had to pick, though, we’d pick Budapest/Vienna/Salzburg. 🙂

Τhank you Ms. Kate, After a lot of videos and Reviews and even though Bruges looks fantastic will be closer to choose Budapest and Salzburg. (even though Vienna is for the Second time after 2017). But still, this about as you wrote is a really hard decision if you think Bruges Ghent and of course Amsterdam that is really close to all of them … But we will be closer to your opinion that why i wrote here to take a feedback. Thank you for this

Budapest all day long

Warsaw is a beautiful city

I totally agree Warsaw is so quick changing city I have seen almost whole Europe and over 100 capitals in the world and I am so happy that I live in Warsaw

If you like Amsterdam, then don’t forget to visit Leiden. It’has the same look and feel as Amsterdam with canals and beautiful museums.

I have traveled many European cities mostly on business and a few with my wife on pleasure. I agree with your selections and comments. Your list is also very informative for me to visit the places we have not been to. Thank you for your postings.

Great Blog! You really made a very good choice of your top 35 cities in Europe (and choosing only 35 is extremely difficult). Keep the good work up and have fun travelling, now that it is possible again.

Saint Petersburg should be included. Beautiful place.

Hi Kate Have loved reading your post. Had been thinking of visiting Milan but see it doesn’t get a mention in this list. What are your thoughts on its merits? Thanks Barbra

We’ve visited Milan several times (were just there again a couple of weeks ago, in fact), but it’s not among our favorite cities in Italy!

That’s very subjective, of course, many people love it. As the business capital of Italy we don’t find it quite as idyllic and picturesque as many Italian cities, but of course its major sites–the Duomo, the Last Supper, etc–are all wonderful and worth visiting. We don’t dislike it, just don’t love it as much as other places.

We do have a guide to spending a day there! Here it is: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/one-day-in-milan-itinerary/

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25 Best Cities to Visit in Europe

By Alex Schultz · Last updated on March 1, 2024

Attracting over half of the world’s tourists each and every year, Europe is home to some of the most important, impressive and influential cities on Earth. Lying between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the vast Asian landmass, it relatively small size belies its staggering diversity.

Renowned around the world for their age-old historic sights and fabulous art and architecture, Europe’s cities really are a delight to visit. With lots of excellent bars, restaurants, shops, and museums wherever you go, its many stunning sights are perfectly complemented by thriving culinary and nightlife scenes.

As its 44 different countries are all home to a myriad of peoples, languages, and cultures, Europe’s cosmopolitan cities all have their own unique flavor and identity. With so much for you to see and do, the only question is where to begin.

25. Dublin [SEE MAP]

Home to almost half of Ireland’s population, Dublin is noted for its magnificent history and heritage, as well as its fun and festive nightlife.

Lying on the banks of the River Liffey, the vibrant capital has long attracted people to its shores and now boasts a very multicultural population. Dotted around the city, you can find lots of interesting things to see, with Trinity College and Dublin Castle counting among its most popular attractions.

As it is famed for its nightlife and drinking culture, many people also stop by the Irish Whiskey Museum and the Guinness Storehouse. Going out at night in Temple Bar is a must. In any one of its packed pubs, Dublin’s friendly locals are sure to give you a hearty welcome.

24. Copenhagen [SEE MAP]

Lying just across the Orseund Strait from Malmo in Sweden, Copenhagen’s history, heritage, and culture are intricately linked with that of the water all around it.

Over the centuries, its strategic location has seen the sleepy fishing village slowly turn into the cool, sophisticated, and happening city it is today. Its main attraction and most recognizable sight however is still Nyhavn; its seventeenth century waterfront. Lined with colorful townhouses, the canal harbor’s lots of historic wooden ships with lively cafes and outdoor terraces dotting its shores. From here, you can take great sightseeing cruises around the scenic canals that lie nearby.

On top of all of this, the city’s museums are also noted for their extensive and exquisite collection of Viking artefacts and artworks from around the world. Widely considered to be one of the best places to live in the world, Denmark’s capital is just as good to visit and explore.

23. Edinburgh [SEE MAP]

Set in a scenic spot overlooking the sea, Edinburgh is one of the United Kingdom’s most beautiful cities.

Moody and magical in equal measure, its grand Georgian buildings, Gothic churches, and, of course, Edinburgh Castle, sprawl dramatically atop of rocky hills and craggy cliffs. It is this epic landscape that makes it so fascinating to explore, with the lively Royal Mile attracting lots of visitors due to its many cafes, shops, and restaurants.

Long renowned for its contributions to art, literature, philosophy, and science, it is only fitting that the best time to visit Edinburgh is during The Fringe. In August, the world’s largest arts and culture festival takes over the city, with lots of amazing comedy, music, and theater shows for you to enjoy.

22. Brasov [SEE MAP]

Located in the center of Romania with the picturesque Carpathian Mountains surrounding it, Brasov is one of the prettiest cities in the country.

Wandering around its medieval Old Town really is the highlight of any visit, as Gothic church spires and age-old watchtowers loom above its cobbled streets. Within the walled city, you can also find lots of cute and cozy cafes, atmospheric bars, and traditional restaurants that perfectly complement Brasov’s laidback ambiance.

Besides this, lots of delightful hiking trails weave their way from the city through the majestic mountains and wonderful scenery all around it. With epic Transylvanian castles and ski resorts also lying nearby, Brasov is definitely worth visiting if you have the chance.

21. Budapest [SEE MAP]

Consisting of the two historic cities of Buda and Pest that lie across the Danube from each other, Hungary’s capital is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

As it was the home of the Hungarian kings of old and the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lots of majestic buildings and impressive monuments dot its streets. Of these, the Parliament Building is one of its main attractions for its gorgeous Gothic style architecture and colossal size. As the ‘spa capital of Europe,’ the city also has loads of lovely thermal bathhouses for you to relax in with Szechenyi Baths being the most popular of the lot.

In addition to this, Budapest is known for its unique ruin bars which make for some great nightlife. With so much for you to see and do, it’s easy to see why it is such a population destination.

20. Bruges [SEE MAP]

A very romantic place to visit, the ‘Venice of the North’ is awash with charming canals that meander their way through its marvelous medieval center .

Exploring the pretty and picturesque cobbled streets is like stepping back in time as you pass grand guild houses and centuries-old churches. Besides checking out its fantastic museums, sampling one of Belgium’s famous beers at one of the cafe-strewn squares is also a must.

As hordes of daytrippers visit Bruges every day, it’s worth staying overnight to have the city to yourself. Beautifully illuminated, its squares, streets, and churches look even more magical at night.

19. Belgrade [SEE MAP]

Located at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers, Belgrade’s strategic setting has seen it fought over, invaded, and destroyed countless times over its history.

As it was ruled by both the Ottomans and Hapsburgs, and was later Yugoslavia’s capital, the city exhibits a wide range of different architectural styles and historical sights . In addition to its large and impressive fortress, there are lots of delightful churches for you to check out with the colossal Temple of Saint Sava being the highlight of the lot. Scattered around town, you can also find a number of pretty parks for you to relax and unwind in while the river banks are for perfect strolling along peacefully.

With a lively cafe culture for you to delve into and lots of nightclubs on offer, Belgrade is justifiably considered to be Southeastern Europe’s party capital. All in all, the capital of present-day Serbia certainly is worth stopping by.

18. Seville [SEE MAP]

Lying on the banks of the Guadalquivir River in the southwest of Spain, Seville is an incredible place with a rich history, heritage, and culture to explore.

As it was once home to both the Romans and the Moors, Andalucia’s capital sports lots of mesmerizing sights that date to different epochs. This is perfectly encapsulated in the Alcazar of Seville which is an elegant palace built by Castilian Christians atop of an old Abbasid Muslim fort.

Despite being steeped in history, the city is a very happening place, with lots of fun and festive flamenco bars for you to check out. The best times of year to visit are during Feria de Abril and Semana Santa, when two of Spain’s most eminent festivals take place.

See also: Where to Stay in Seville

17. Venice [SEE MAP]

Unlike any other place on Earth, everything in the ‘City of Canals’ shimmers before your eyes, with breathtakingly beautiful art and architecture wherever you look.

Set across 118 small islands, which are linked by over 400 bridges, the city boasts a myriad of charming canals, grand palaces, and epic old churches. A very magical and romantic place, its atmospheric alleys beckon alluringly before you emerge at yet another awe-inspiring landmark . Although it can get very crowded, it is well worth visiting during carnival time when everyone dons elaborate costumes and masks.

One of the world’s greatest and most unique cities, Venice needs to be seen to be believed and is one of the main highlights of any trip to Italy.

16. Tallinn [SEE MAP]

Lying on the Gulf of Finland, Estonia’s capital Tallinn is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and it is easy to see why.

Exploring its spectacular Old Town really is a delight as within the fairytale-esque walled city you can find lots of amazing historic sights such as the Toompea Castle complex. The city showcases a wide range of different architectural and cultural influences due to its proximity to not only to Scandinavia and Russia but Central Europe too.

Fought over for centuries by larger European powers, the critical Baltic Sea port is now one of the prettiest and most well-preserved cities in the region.

15. Stockholm [SEE MAP]

The capital of, and largest city in Sweden, Stockholm is scenically set on 14 islands, with glistening waterways and green spaces wherever you look.

Endearingly called ‘beauty on water’ by locals, it exhibits a wide range of different architectural styles that encompass both modern and traditional designs. Besides wandering around the old town’s charming cobbled streets, it is well worth stopping by some of its many museums. These offer a captivating look into everything from art and Abba to spirits and the Vikings.

See also: Where to Stay in Stockholm

A very stylish and trendy place, Stockholm’s Scandinavian cool shines through in its sleek and modern bars, shops, and restaurants. With lots of live music and a pounding nightclub scene for you to delve into, Stockholm has it all.

14. Warsaw [SEE MAP]

Having been bombed to the ground during WWII, Warsaw has seen an impressive revival in recent decades. It is now one of the EU’s largest and liveliest metropolises.

Lying on the banks of the Vistula River, the city sprawls over a vast area, with lots of pretty green parks interspersed among its grey communist-era blocks. Of particular note is its gorgeous Old Town , which was painstakingly rebuilt after being destroyed. In addition to this, it is well worth visiting the top of the imposing Palace of Culture and Science for its stunning panoramas.

Besides its cheap and cheerful milk bars which are a throwback to Communist times, Warsaw also boasts an increasing number of chic vodka bars and trendy nightclubs. Poland’s capital is an increasingly popular tourist destination and it is easy to see why.

13. Lisbon [SEE MAP]

Set over seven hills, which tumble down to where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal’s capital is a delight to behold. Defined by its hilly landscape, the city is famed for its steep, cobbled streets, on which distinctive yellow trams trundle peacefully along.

While much of Lisbon was leveled in the disastrous earthquake of 1755, it still proudly exhibits lots of exquisite architecture and important landmarks . Of these, Castelo de Sao Jorge is particularly worth visiting as its prominent hilltop position offers up marvellous views of Lisbon down below.

See also: Where to Stay in Lisbon

With fun Fado music nights and a plethora of delicious local dishes such as Bacalau to sample, it’s no wonder that in recent years, Lisbon has seen a surge in the number of tourists visiting.

12. Athens [SEE MAP]

Considered by many to be the birthplace of Western civilization, it is here in Athens that some of the world’s most influential philosophers and thinkers once resided.

Renowned figures such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates hailed from the city-state and in their day would debate and expand on their views in places such as the Agora and Acropolis. Remarkably, both of these sites are still around some 2,500 years or so after they were founded. Indeed, Athens is replete with a staggering array of ancient archaeological sights with history and heritage on show all around you.

Lively yet laidback at the same time, wandering through its cafe-strewn streets is a great way to take in the ambiance with lots of splendid street art wherever you go.

See also: Where to Stay in Athens

11. Vienna [SEE MAP]

One of the grandest and most elegant cities in Europe, Vienna’s impressive imperial legacy really does make for a marvelous sight.

Once the seat of the Hapsburgs and the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, wealth and riches poured into Vienna for centuries. This fueled the building of majestic palaces and parks, monuments, and museums . Many of them are found along the Ringstrasse, which encircles the city center.

Known as the ‘City of Music,’ Vienna is famed for its composers, and watching a performance in the gorgeous Vienna State Opera makes for an unforgettable experience.

See also: Where to Stay in Vienna

10. Berlin [SEE MAP]

Germany’s capital of cool, Berlin boasts some of the best and most accepting nightlife around, with lots of pounding bars and trendy clubs for you to try out.

In recent years, the city has changed and evolved at a rapid pace with new buildings springing up wherever you look. This is because lots of empty spaces were left following Berlin’s heavy bombing during the Second World War. Interspersed among its grimy, gritty, and graffiti-coated buildings, however, you can still find loads of moving and momentous historic sites , such as the Berlin Wall and Holocaust memorial.

As it is very multicultural, Berlin’s culinary and cultural scenes are particularly worthwhile delving into. A very welcoming place, the capital accepts everyone and caters to all interests.

See also: Where to Stay in Berlin

9. Dubrovnik [SEE MAP]

In the Middle Ages, Dubrovnik was Venice’s chief rival; the two city-states jostled for trade, power, and prestige.

Consequently, lots of magnificent buildings and important monuments were erected during this time and the walled city became known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Due to its former influence, its museums now host astounding collections of art and historical artifacts. As lots of idyllic beaches lie nearby for you to lounge on, any visit can be as relaxing or taxing as you make it.

While it can get inundated with tourists, there is a reason why so many people flock to Dubrovnik. Surrounded by glimmering waters with lots of lovely nature nearby , it is Croatia’s prime destination.

8. Saint Petersburg [SEE MAP]

Lying at the mouth of the Neva River, Russia’s second-largest yet arguably most beautiful city is a treat to explore.

Despite only being founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, the former imperial home of the tsars dazzles before your eyes. This is because he sponsored the building of a number of grand cathedrals and resplendent palaces which now lie amidst the city’s many canals and waterways. Of its many world-class attractions , however, the Hermitage Museum stands head and shoulders above the rest and should not be missed out on.

As St Petersburg is renowned for its incredible performing arts no visit can ever be complete without watching one of its divine ballets, concerts, or operas.

7. Barcelona [SEE MAP]

Blessed with a warm and inviting climate, the sunny seaside city of Barcelona is a very pretty and pleasant place to spend some time.

Steeped in history, Spain’s second city sports a staggering array of age-old historic sights , with Roman ruins lying alongside the gorgeous Gothic quarter. Due to its ancient roots, its streets exhibit a myriad of architectural styles, as is best exemplified by Gaudi’s masterpiece La Sagrada Familia.

See also: Where to Stay in Barcelona

Barcelona’s arts and culture scene is just as vibrant. Its fabulous museums and galleries are full of fine artworks by Catalan masters such as Dali and Miro. Besides this, the city is also known for its famous soccer team and notoriously lively nightlife.

6. Amsterdam [SEE MAP]

Renowned for the scenic canals that meander their way through the heart of the city, Amsterdam certainly paints a pretty picture. Add in its many marvelous town houses and atmospheric cobbled streets, and it is easy to see why it makes for such a popular tourist destination.

On top of all its exquisite architecture, the Netherlands’ capital also boasts lots of fascinating museums . While the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum attract lots of visitors with their amazing artworks, just as many head to the Anne Frank Museum for the important look it offers up of the past.

See also: Where to Stay in Amsterdam

A very tolerant and progressive place, Amsterdam has also long been known for its pounding nightlife. One of the best times of year to visit is on King’s Day, when the whole city is coated in orange and everyone takes to the streets to celebrate the monarch’s birthday.

5. Istanbul [SEE MAP]

Billed as the place where East meets West, Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus Strait which separates Europe from Asia. Formerly known as both Byzantium and Constantinople, it has long been one of the most important and influential cities in world history.

Due to its strategic location, trade, wealth and people flocked to its streets. As a result of this, majestic monuments such as the gorgeous Hagia Sophia sprung up, showcasing the city’s power and prestige. This too can be seen in the abundance of artworks and architectural wonders that can be spied around the center. Nowadays, it is the largest city in the whole of Europe with over fifteen million people to be found within its confines.

See also: Where to Stay in Istanbul

To get a taste of old Istanbul, make sure to head to the Grand Bazaar where you’ll be greeted with all kinds of intoxicating sights, sounds and smells from the souk.

4. London [SEE MAP]

One of the most famous and iconic cities in the world, London has long been a trendsetter when it comes to popular culture.

As it has appeared in so many movies, its many landmarks are instantly recognizable with Big Ben just one of its main attractions . The UK’s capital has a thriving arts and culture scene for you to delve into with most of its museums being free to the public. Very multicultural, its fabulous diversity is proudly on display wherever you go, as is evidenced by the endless array of brilliant cafes, restaurants, and bars. On top of all this, it also has some of the best shopping in Europe.

Whether it’s sport or theater that you are into, or architecture, musicals, and the Royal family, in London there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.

3. Prague [SEE MAP]

Straddling the banks of the Vistula River, Prague, with its magnificent Old Town, is a mesmerizing place to wander around.

Although now often crowded with tourists, exploring its ancient cobbled streets is a must, with Charles Bridge being one of its main highlights. Other than this, its main sights are the majestic castle and cathedral that are perched dramatically atop a hill overlooking the city.

With some interesting statues and art installations scattered around town, and lots of hearty local cuisine and Czech beers for you to sample, Prague is certainly worth visiting.

See also: Where to Stay in Prague

2. Paris [SEE MAP]

Chic, stylish, and sophisticated, Paris has long been famed for its beauty and is one of the most popular cities to visit in Europe.

The city is full of astounding artworks and architecture, with fantastic statues and sculptures found alongside Art Nouveau and wrought iron masterpieces such as the Eiffel Tower. In the shape of the Louvre it boasts the largest art museum in the whole of the world.

Located on the banks of the Seine, France’s cosmopolitan capital is just as well known for its exquisite cuisine as it is its high-end fashion outlets. With so many treasures for you to discover and delight in, Paris is to be savored slowly – just like a fine French wine.

1. Rome [SEE MAP]

With millennia-old archaeological sites, historic ruins, and iconic landmarks lying around literally every corner, Rome is the gift that keeps on giving.

Once the center of one of the world’s greatest civilizations ever, the city remarkably has over 3,000 years of history for you to delve into. Of its many monument s, the Colosseum is arguably its most famous and impressive. Venture into the Vatican Museums and you risk never leaving, such is the abundance of incredible artworks, paintings, and sculptures on show.

See also: Where to Stay in Rome

Although it is steeped in history, Italy’s capital is a happening place, with busy bars and restaurants wherever you go. One of the most romantic and rewarding places to explore, for many ‘the Eternal City’ is without equal and is the best of what Europe has to offer.

Map of the Best Cities to Visit in Europe

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Reader interactions.

June 14, 2020 at 12:05 pm

So glad that Europe is reopening tomorrow for tourism! I saw your video on YouTube then had to check out your website. Although it’s hard to choose a favorite destination on the continent, Rome has a special place in my heart. It was the first foreign city I traveled to in 2000 and I went back in 2017 for my birthday. My family is from Sicily. Hope to go back soon when they allow Americans again!

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New Study Says These Are the 10 Best Cities in Europe in 2024

Istanbul cracks the top 10, berlin is on the rise, and this city remains no. 1 in resonance’s annual best-in-europe rankings..

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Easy to identify, easy to love: London sits atop the Resonance rankings of Europe’s best cities.

Photo by RAW-films/Shutterstock

In these days of digital nomadism and working remotely, a list of Europe’s best cities has even greater value—and this annual ranking by Resonance , a consultancy group in real estate, tourism, and economic development that AFAR has partnered with for several years, has the most thorough, holistic approach around.

“It’s not just best city to live, it’s not just best city to work, or best city to visit,” said Chris Fair, president and CEO of Resonance Consultancy. “It’s taking a cross section of all those factors.” In 2024, Resonance updated its metrics to focus on three key areas—livability, lovability, and prosperity—that cover everything from GDP to housing affordability, green spaces to nightlife, and even a city’s social media presence, all in a painstaking effort to paint a more comprehensive picture of Europe’s best urban centers.

This year’s list of Europe’s 100 best cities (we’ll excerpt the top 10 below) considered 180 metropolitan centers with a population of 500,000 or more. Looking for some “spin the globe” inspiration for where to go next? You’ll find it here, from Aachen to Bratislava to Zurich.

How the best city rankings work

Livability: This category measures the quality of a place’s environment, both natural and built. Subcategories include walkability (the city’s walkability score on Walk Score), airport connectivity (the number of direct destinations served by the city’s airports), and higher education (the QS Rankings score of the top local university).

Lovability: The lovability pillar considers the vibrancy and quality of a city, as well as how much it inspires residents, businesses, and visitors to promote it. This includes culture (number of quality performing arts and cultural experiences recommended by locals and visitors according to Tripadvisor.com ), shopping (number of quality shopping experiences recommended by locals and visitors according to Tripadvisor.com ), and number of Instagram hashtags.

Prosperity: The prosperity pillar measures the strength of a city’s human capital. Subcategories include educational attainment (percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or higher), Fortune Global 500 companies (number of Fortune Global 500 corporate headquarters), convention center size (size of the largest convention center in a city), and poverty rate (percentage of the population living below the national poverty line).

Despite the continental pandemic recovery, urban populations across Europe are dealing with fresh crises: economic, environmental, and humanitarian. ”Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has scarred our rankings for the second year in a row,” says Fair. ”In our view, no city can be a ‘Best City’ if it is part of a country that is taking unprovoked action against another, and we have, once again, disqualified Moscow, St. Petersburg, and all other Russian cities from this year’s report.”

Here’s how Europe’s best cities ranked in the 2024 report, released March 5, 2024:

London ranked No. 1 in culture and educational attainment.

Photo by S. Borisov/Shuterstock

1. London, England

Rankings: No. 1 in Culture and Educational Attainment *also World’s Best City of 2024

“London is rarely quiet these days,” says Resonance. Most of the Tube’s lines now run at its pre-pandemic cadence, with added metro stops like Bond Street’s Elizabeth station, opened in October 2022. Thanks to policies that give the United Kingdom the lowest corporate tax rate among G7 countries, London’s resilience has been “buoyed by a sinking currency that has attracted investment and, of course, previously priced-out tourists. And new residents . . . who can now afford to check off a big item on the multi-millionaire bucket list: property in the planet’s most coveted city,” Resonance says.

Why we love it: London’s main sights might date back millennia, but the capital’s shops, bars, hotels, and restaurants continue to evolve on an almost weekly basis. Whether you’re outdoorsy, hungry, or bringing a family in tow, there’s a distinct London neighborhood to investigate —and it will likely look different from your last visit. For new hotel options , there’s everything from the much-anticipated Raffles London at the OWO to the sustainability-meets-luxury–inspired 1 Hotel Mayfair .

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to London.

Paris ranked No. 1 in sights/landmarks and global Fortune 500 companies.

Photo by Shutterstock

2. Paris, France

Rankings: No. 1 in Sights/Landmarks and Global Fortune 500 companies *Holding at no. 2

“The city remains the most visited on the planet, with 44 million visitors last year,” Resonance says. “Good thing Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport used the past three years of lower volume to invest €250 million into a renovation of Terminal 1. Reopened this year, it now has a colossal junction building and a central lobby full of the latest tech to improve the traveler experience. Rail access and infrastructure are also unprecedented. A seven-hour direct Berlin-to-Paris TGV line launches next year, with more ambitious directs like the Venice-to-Paris Midnight Trains coming in 2025. No matter how they arrive, what Paris visitors new and returning will find is a city that has codified pedestrianism and alfresco living.”

Why we love it: As Paris gears up for the 2024 Olympics, it’s only improving. Better infrastructure, a commitment to pedestrians, and luxurious hotels add to a city we love for its world-class art, shopping, and global cuisine.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Paris.

Berlin climbed from No. 7 last year to No. 3 in 2024.

3. Berlin, Germany

Rankings: Startups (3), Culture (4), Nightlife (5) *Up from No. 7

No surprise here: Berlin ranked in the top five for Culture, Museums, and Nightlife, attracting visitors and residents alike with its “raw, unabashed urbanity and self-expression,” says Resonance. It has been a haven for Ukraine refugees as well as entrepreneurs looking to set up shop: According to Berlin Startup Map, the city currently has about 4,400 startups. “The talent is also attracting massive domestic and foreign investment into the city and its suburbs.”

Why we love it: Two major museums have moved into the new Humboldt Forum in the heart of the city: the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art. A dozen other museums are set to open or have opened, with collections ranging from the world of the samurai to video games. Bonus: The European Sleeper night train (with lie-flat beds in cabins) now connects Berlin and Brussels via Amsterdam . It gets you from Berlin to Brussels in less than 12 hours.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Berlin.

Visit Rome for the restaurants and a walk through history.

Photo by Chris Czermak on Unsplash

4. Rome, Italy

Rankings: Restaurants (1 - tie), TripAdvisor reviews (2) *Up from No. 8

“Few cities serve up the ability to walk Western history like Roma,” says Resonance, and “declarations of love for the city have multiplied with social media channels, of course, and Rome trails only London and Paris in our important Promotion category, including No. 2 for TripAdvisor Reviews. Mix in underrated parks and greenways (Rome ranks no. 8 in our Outdoors subcategory) and its thousands of portals back in time (Sights and Landmarks rank in the Top 3 in Europe) and it’s easy to see how Rome remains an urban treasure.”

Why we love it: Rome landed on AFAR’s “ Where to Go in 2024 ” list thanks to an influx of top-tier hotels, amenities, and restaurants. As Laura Itzkowitz reported , “Anantara is one of several hotel brands imbuing the city with a more international flair. Just in 2023, InterContinental , Bulgari , Edition , and Six Senses each debuted new properties in Rome. In the pipeline: hotels by Four Seasons , Rosewood , Nobu , and more. “Rome is coming out of a crazy year full of visitors and openings,” says Elisa Valeria Bove, CEO of the private tour company Roma Experience . “Before, people stayed in Rome for two or three days. Now people stay five, six days, or even a week.”

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Rome.

Madrid is bouncing back from the pandemic in a conscientious way.

Photo by Alex Vasey on Unsplash

5. Madrid, Spain

Rankings: Restaurants (1 - tie), Culture (3) *Up from No. 6

“Madrid, sometimes overlooked for Barcelona’s beaches and parties, is confidently telling its story these days,” says Resonance. “Perhaps the biggest news is Madrid’s beautiful measures to combat climate change and pollution, by way of a 76-kilometre urban forest network with nearly half a million new trees. . . . This ‘green wall’ is projected to help absorb 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The new Santander Park is an instant citizen and visitor destination (that used to be a golf course).”

Why we love it: On both our radar and Resonance’s are more than 20 new hotels and nearly 100 restaurants that have opened, or will open, in an already culture-rich city bouncing back from the pandemic in a big way—and in a conscientious way, reports Resonance: “Many of the high-end hotels are committed to reuse—from the Madrid Edition by Marriott International, housed in the old Monte de Piedad de Madrid building, to the stunning Metrópolis building’s new life as a boutique hotel, spa, private club and home of multiple restaurants.”

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Madrid .

Prague ranks in the top 10 of lovability and livability.

Photo by William Zhang on Unsplash

6. Prague, Czechia

Rankings: Poverty Rate (1), Attractions (2) *New to the top 10

“Pandemic lockdowns broke the overtourism wave that was cresting over Prague’s beguiling Gothic streets, allowing the city to implement resident-first policies and maintain a sense of ownership. It’s a massive job in any city, much less one that threads the needle as one of the world’s rare urban centres that ranks in the Top 10 in both our overall Livability (#7) and Lovability (#8) indices. Still, over the past 18 months, city leaders made long-lasting decisions to ensure that Prague’s #3-ranked Museums (ahead of places like Berlin, Rome, and Madrid) and Attractions (which trail only London) remain accessible to the citizens who supported local when tourism didn’t.” Thanks to Prague’s youthfulness (university students from around the world descend here annually), much of the fun is affordable—and poverty rates are the lowest on the list.

Why we love it: Prague is complex and unfiltered in the best possible way. Step back in time to the city’s Bohemian past—the Old Town Square, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, the romantic Charles Bridge—before visiting the somber memorial to its Communist rule. Prague seems to bask in modern optimism, as evidenced by such landmarks as Frank Gehry’s Dancing House Hotel and DOX Centre for Contemporary Art.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Prague.

Park Güell in Barcelona is a Gaudi highlight.

Photo by Luis Pina/Shutterstock

7. Barcelona, Spain

Rankings: Restaurants (1 - tied), Nightlife (2) *Down from No. 4

Barcelona is an almost ideal European city, with great weather year-round and “era-spanning neighborhoods that are destinations at all hours,” says Resonance. The big news this year is that Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia is nearly finished (!), and the city “just opened its €50-million Consell de Cent, 21 pedestrianised blocks that used to be a four-lane cross-town street, part of what is being called a ‘green axis’ urban park in an area popular with both locals and visitors.”

Why we love it: This Spanish city is home to miles and miles of beaches , iconic parks, and Gaudí’s iconic architectural landmarks . But we could just as easily get lost in El Born and the Gothic Quarters’ labyrinths, looking for dumplings or the best Catalan restaurant.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Barcelona.

Amsterdam is at the forefront of sustainable tourism.

Photo by Ériver Hijano

8. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rankings: Labor Force Participation (3), Startups (5) *Down from No. 3

Amsterdam continues to be a city to keep an eye on, with its evolution “led by visionary mayor Femke Halsema (literally: she’s also a filmmaker), the first non-interim female mayor in the city’s history,” says Resonance. “Her administration’s practical stewardship of a place (and citizens) often abandoned to the tourist euro is co-authoring a future of accountability by everyone who calls the magnetic Dutch capital home.”

Why we love it : With nonstop flights from most U.S. cities, Amsterdam’s easy accessibility—and beautiful canals and world-class museums—make it a popular stop for any Euro trip. In addition to its top-notch cultural offerings, Amsterdam is on the forefront of sustainable tourism. In 2018, one hospitality company started to repurpose Amsterdam’s out-of-use bridge houses into charming stand-alone hotel rooms , and by 2030 all gas and diesel cars will be banned from the city.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Amsterdam.

The Peninsula hotel’s central location is ideal for first-time visitors who want to focus on historic attractions.

Courtesy of The Peninsula Istanbul

9. Istanbul, Türkiye

Rankings: Restaurants (1 - tie), Airport Connectivity (3) *New to the top 10

“The ancient collision between Europe and Asia radiates in Türkiye’s (and Europe’s) largest city. It’s why the city is among the most beguiling for its sense of place, inside and out. Its Top 10 Sights and Landmarks ranking, as well as its impressive No. 4 spot in our Outdoors subcategory, will improve due to the extensive renovations completed for the Turkish Republic’s centennial in October 2023.”

Why we love it: Know someone who mentioned visiting Istanbul in 2023? We’re not surprised. Following a devastating earthquake in southeastern Türkiye in February 2023, the nation (and an active tourism arm) has rallied to make the country—and, by extension, its global hub, Istanbul—the most visited destination of 2023 . It helps that Istanbul has one of the best new airports in the world (IST). A recently reborn Galataport waterfront district—running a mile along the sparkling Bosporus Strait—now has an underground cruise terminal and high-end restaurants and hotels, including the much-celebrated Peninsula Istanbul.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Istanbul.

Ouael Ben Salah/Unsplash

10. Milan, Italy

Rankings: Biking (4), EV Charging Stations (5) *New to the top 10

“The birthplace of Armani, Versace and dozens of other megawatt icons is no longer content with being Europe’s fashion and design center. Or even Italy’s financial heart. Milan is driven, as always, by its entrepreneurial hunger and is increasingly fueled by wealthy newcomers. This strategic proximity to other European capitals and alpine resorts pulling in the global elite also won the city the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and a rush of development that includes a long-awaited train link between Milan Bergamo Airport and the centro.”

Why we love it: Milan is incandescent—an extension of the creative spirit imbued here for centuries. It’s a city fully immersed in culture. Whether the art of the aperitivo , the spectacular art scene, or an amazing panorama of architecture that spans styles and millennia, Milan is an oasis of style, art, and architecture.

Plan your next trip with AFAR’s Guide to Milan .

To see the full list of Europe’s 100 best cities, visit worldsbestcities.com. Read on for the best cities in the U.S.

Get the latest Europe’s Best Cities reports

For the second year in a row, London reigns over all European cities. Despite crippling COVID lockdowns and economic devastation. Despite Brexit. Despite a war in Europe. 

The city is top of mind for students, foreign investors and tourists, all eager to get back out and plug into a place that topped all three of our overall indices: Livability, Lovability and Prosperity—the only city in this year’s ranking to do so—reaching #1 in an astonishing 12 of our 27 subcategories, from Restaurants to Startups.

Not that the city’s visitor economy needed any convincing: London ranked third on the planet (and first in Europe) for cities with the biggest international traveller spend in 2022, worth €14.88 billion. The soft pound certainly made bucket-list trips more affordable, combined with the voracious global appetite to see the world after the pandemic.

Heathrow Airport reported its highest-ever September traffic figures in 2023, welcoming more than seven million customers, compared to 6.8 million in September 2019. Having long anticipated that the inflow of people into the city will only intensify (pandemic be damned), Gatwick Airport just unveiled its £250-million upgrade that includes the creation of a second concourse, a new entrance, eight new escalators, five lifts and wider access platforms. The original concourse also features new and expanded ticket gates and customer assistance infrastructure.

While the tourists are wonderful, the metric that has city leaders excited are the figures indicating that the COVID-era London exodus may finally be over, with the number of Londoners leaving the capital for more space falling to its lowest level in nine years in 2023, according to figures from real estate firm Hamptons and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. In 2023, fewer than 70,000 homes were bought outside the capital by Londoners (the fewest in almost a decade), down from almost 101,000 in 2021 at the height of the pandemic.

Indeed, the city’s infrastructure is awaiting those back in town, operating pretty much at pre-pandemic capacity, if the Tube is any indication. There are even new metro stops as part of the transformational Elizabeth line buildout, with trains now running directly from Reading and Heathrow to Abbey Wood and from Shenfield to Paddington. The brand-new Bond Street station, at the heart of London’s West End, also opened in late 2022. Returning transit aficionados won’t believe the direct journeys now possible across the city. 

Placemaking projects are everywhere, none more anticipated than next year’s opening of the Camden Highline, the 1.5-kilometre-long greenway just north of Central London that will transform an unused train track into an elevated path similar to the famous urban landmark in New York. 

And speaking of gathering people, the hand-wringing about the flight of talent and capital due to the pall of Brexit (and the follow-up spectre of an airborne pandemic), while warranted, now seems excessive. 

London’s foreign direct investment resilience, like its tourism appeal, has been buoyed by a sinking currency that has attracted previously priced out investment. And new residents. New wealthy residents who can now afford to check off a big item on the multimillionaire bucket list: property in the planet’s most coveted city. (London also topped Resonance Consultancy’s World’s Best Cities ranking earlier this year, for the ninth year in a row.)

Forecasters at London Central Portfolio are predicting upwards of 15% price growth in inner London over the coming four years, compared to 11% in Greater London and much less in the wider U.K.

The highest-profile new residents span the globally super-rich, from Middle Eastern buying activity hitting a four-year high in the second half of 2022 to the arrival of tech royalty, although aggressive tech-sector cost-cutting has brought the deep tech investment seen earlier this decade to a halt. 

While the city remains Meta’s largest global engineering base outside of the U.S., its two offices in London’s King’s Cross neighbourhood—opened in early 2022 after a three-year build (and designed by Bennetts Associates with interiors by TP Bennett based on a concept design by Gehry Partners)—are pretty sparse these days. Alphabet is still planning to open its 11-storey, 90,000-square-metre London HQ this year between King’s Cross station and the King’s Boulevard, although the 4,000 anticipated employees won’t be brought on for a while.

The office slowdown across the city has spotlighted the office vacancy crisis at Canary Wharf, London’s 52-hectare banking district, with its stubborn vacancy rate that hovered in the high teens for most of 2023, the highest in the city. As a result, owners Canary Wharf Group are planning to invest their way out by building a “Canary Wharf 3.0” in the area, focused on residences, entertainment and a 70,000-square-metre life-sciences centre, which it says will be the largest commercial lab in Europe.

Despite these recent economic clouds, London is still hot globally. According to fDi Markets, the Financial Times ’ foreign investment tracker, London has lured the most foreign direct investments into tech from international companies since 2018, ahead of New York, Singapore and Dubai.

It’s why by 2030 plans for the city’s financial district buildout are staggering, as the Square Mile is projected to erect 11 new towers, including the tallest structure ever built here. The vision is the Manhattan-isation of the city’s ancient, meandering streetscapes into an orderly grid anchored by the towers, according to the City of London Corporation. The group has already approved and started construction on 500,000 square metres of new office space, with another 500,000 currently being proposed. The approved space equals a jaw-dropping 70 football pitches. And will be double that once pending approvals come through.

No wonder the City of London Corporation just opened offices in New York and Washington, DC, in an effort to help build stronger financial ties to the U.S. (and secure billions of dollars in leases).

Working diligently alongside is London & Partners, the official publicity arm and the economic development organisation supplying financial perks for all that relocation. Recent tax incentives have included the lowest corporate tax rate among G7 countries and a cornucopia of research and development tax credits. 

“London’s exceptional business growth environment continues to produce and attract top companies positioned to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, but also the very best talent and investors to help them get there,” notes Janet Coyle, CBE Managing Director of Grow London at London & Partners.

“The fact that London is now second in the world for climate-tech investment is a testament to the power and resilience of London’s ecosystem and what can be achieved when game-changing ideas are met with the nurture and support they need.”

The global investment in the city is also obvious in the dozens of newly opened and equally daring hotels, none more exciting than the urban reimagining of the Art’otel, with its 164 art-inspired rooms on the top levels of the recently reopened Battersea Power Station, a mid-1900s husk that today is stuffed with shops, restaurants, cinemas and a theatre. Or the OWO Raffles in the Old War Office Building in Whitehall—it’s the first time the neo-Baroque building, used by the Ministry of Defence until the 1960s, has been opened to the public. Joining them are gilded names like Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Six Senses and perhaps the biggest indicator that London has never been hotter: the PPHE Hotel Group’s plans to develop a “predominantly subterranean” hotel on Vauxhall Bridge Road close to London Victoria station.

And here you thought the iceberg home went away with the last decade.

A lot of city leaders talk about learning from the pandemic, but La Ville Lumière is actually walking the walk, going all-in on those hard lessons and their applications to molecular urban change. And with half a decade and billions in investment to prepare for this summer’s Summer Olympics, Paris has codified pedestrianism, biking and alfresco living like nowhere else on the planet.

While the face of Paris’s pandemic evolution is Mayor Anne Hidalgo and her obsession with the empowerment of self-propelled mobility—from a city-wide motorised vehicle speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour introduced in 2021, to the promise of more than 700 kilometres of bike paths across most arrondissements by 2026—it’s the citizenry’s embrace of this master plan that is changing the city’s fabric for good. 

An incredible 70% of Parisians don’t own cars, and they report better air quality and personal health for the choice not to. The all-in commitment to biking, called Plan Velo, will place the city among the most bike-friendly on the planet, improving on its current #10 spot in our Biking subcategory. Act 2 of the plan will teach children to ride bikes in schools, create bike repair infrastructure in neighbourhoods and promote local cycling tourism to the world.

Late last year, city officials tracking local rush hour traffic on several of the city’s main thoroughfares tabulated more bicycles than cars on the road.

Pedestrians are getting equal love, with local numbers citing that 65% of all journeys are made by foot, which has increased by 12% between 2010 and 2020. Since 2020, city leaders have taken credit for creating an extra 30 hectares of pedestrian areas via widened sidewalks and car-free zones (prioritising school zones in doing so). Measures like bollards, longer crossing lights and traffic police to protect pedestrians will also encourage walking in the city. The plan is for another 100 pedestrianised hectares to be implemented by 2030. 

The biggest investment in the city’s mobility and to get residents out of their cars is the expansion of the Paris Métro, already the envy of the world with its 800-kilometre, 16-line network seamlessly incorporated into a commuter rail system. In its most significant upgrade in decades, the Grand Paris Express will be a new 200-kilometre network boasting four additional lines, extensions to existing lines (11 and 14) and a mind-blowing 68 new metro stations. Started in 2016, it is, according to the French government, Europe’s largest civilian infrastructure project. 

The new lines prioritise access to the city’s suburban towns, which were left out of the Parisian ascent for far too long. While the city was future-proofing itself with visionary sustainability and investment attraction, it has and is battling monumental social and economic challenges, perhaps unlike any other capital city on the continent. Paris has been wracked by unemployment and economic calamity since 2020 and ranks #47 in our Poverty Rate subcategory, which tracks residents living under the national poverty line. The systemic inequality is a powder keg in the pockets where tourists rarely go. In the summer of 2023, the city (and country) exploded after the fatal, point-blank shooting of French teenager Nahel Merzouk by Florian Menesplier, a police officer, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Given the 17-year-old’s Algerian and Moroccan descent, racism was alleged in the killing.

After a week of protests across the country, which caused an estimated billion dollars in damage, day-to-day city life has resumed as investigations into systemic racism in the regional police force and the murder trial proceed. 

Even with the unrest, last year’s international tourist spend continued its march to pre-pandemic levels. Of course, being able to enjoy a city ranked best in Europe in our Sights & Landmarks, Shopping and Restaurants subcategories, as well as #2 in Museums (the city has well over 100), has a tendency to distract one from the perils of the modern world. 

Paris was also recently crowned the world’s most powerful urban tourist destination for 2022 by the World Travel & Tourism Council, with the city’s hospitality industry worth €32.9 billion last year. And it’s projected to grow to more than €44 billion by 2032.

More than three years without Paris is certainly driving the voraciousness, but so is the euro being near par with the U.S. dollar of late. The city remains among the most visited on the planet, with 44 million visitors in 2022, yet these numbers are still 13% below 2019 levels. With the Olympics returning this year, as well as the late 2024 unveiling of the Notre Dame renovation, this could be the year that Paris hits pre-pandemic tourism revenues, especially after the world feasts on how the sporting events have been woven into the legendary urban fabric.   

And nowhere will the focus be more intense than the city’s revered Seine River and its benchmark for Paris’s efficacy in achieving a cleaner, healthier home. The plan is still to host swimming events in the river that has banned swimming since 1923 due to pollution and sewage, and organisers are working around the clock to ensure that Mayor Hidalgo can fulfil her promise to go for a swim before the opening ceremonies (which will feature a flotilla of boats on the Seine). Whatever happens, escaping those Paris heatwaves will certainly be easier in the coming years.

Outside the city, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (ranked #2 in Europe in our Airport Connectivity subcategory) used the past three years of lower volume to invest €250 million into a renovation of Terminal 1. Reopened last year, it now has a colossal junction building and a central lobby full of the latest tech to improve the traveller experience.

Rail access and infrastructure are also unprecedented. Direct high-speed TGV routes linking other capitals have launched over the past year, with more ambitious directs like the Venice-to-Paris Midnight Trains coming in 2025.

Too often in the Paris narrative, the city’s economic might gets forgotten. This is the place with the most Global Fortune 500 headquarters on the continent, and the second-most startups. In 2021, President Macron committed €30 billion to the France 2030 plan: an effort to create “high-tech champions of the future” that is expected to yield 100 French tech unicorns by the end of the decade. There are 29 today, and the 20 of these in Paris are quickly establishing the city as a startup hotbed, with the State of European Tech noting that France has seen the strongest growth in tech-focused job searches of any European country. And where do you think most of that arriving talent will pick as their new home base? Especially when the cost of a car isn’t necessary.

Berlin is a city where remnants of a fragile history mingle with a present in which being whatever you want simply comes with residency. These days, 35 years after the fall of its eponymous wall and the Iron Curtain, the city is a haven, welcoming waves of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion, just like it has been for decades—with mixed success—for those arriving from all over the world in search of a new life. It’s a big reason why the city ranks #13 in Europe in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory, and Berlin’s #20 ranking for Educational Attainment will only climb with ambitious new arrivals and the ascent of those already here.

The result of Berlin’s relative hospitality: raw, unabashed urbanity and self-expression as diverse and proud as its 12 sprawling kiez (neighbourhoods). That admittedly atrophied under pandemic restrictions, but as public health measures eased a couple of years ago, the entire city returned, especially during its glorious summers, when residents gathered in the parks, in the beer gardens and, increasingly, in the street parties and parades.

And given Berlin’s #4 ranking in our Culture subcategory (which includes festivals and concerts) and its #5 Nightlife ranking, the city was ready to party like few others.

A packed 2023 cultural and events calendar (featuring the full return of the Berlinale and the arrival of the Special Olympics World Games—the world’s largest inclusive sports event) warmed things up for an even bigger 2024. Of course, summer means the annual Christopher Street Day (aka the massive Gay Pride Berlin celebration, famous throughout Europe and the world). Expect hundreds of thousands of revellers, activists and policymakers channelling the spirit of Schöneberg—an area that in the 1920s became the world’s first gay village—city-wide. Welcoming them will be the Pink Pillow Collection, the world’s only initiative of its kind among hotels (57 at last count) that transcend the “gay-friendly” marketese to contribute to social projects, prove well-versed in the LGBTIQ+ scene and ensure a welcome and respected environment for guests and staff.

In June, EURO 2024 comes to Berlin’s Olympiastadion as the city becomes the biggest venue among 10 German cities hosting the country’s first major football tournament since the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

This is the home of Museum Island, too, and the city’s #4 Museums ranking is well earned as Berlin quickly approaches 200, indicative of its obsession with cataloguing its own history and the history it imposed on so many places during its eight centuries as a city. Places like The Topography of Terror, documenting Nazi atrocities, and the Stasi Museum confront and localise global horrors, challenging visitors to never forget. A cascade of new openings and renovations are completed, underway or scheduled to launch in 2024. Two major museums have moved into the new Humboldt Forum in the heart of the city: the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art. Other openings in recent years feature collections ranging from the world of the samurai to video games. Berlinische Galerie, a new permanent exhibit opened in 2022, explores the daily lives of prisoners under GDR state security oppression, including first-time access into actual working and living spaces. Its title says it all: Forced Cooperation: The Prisoner Work Crews of Hohenschönhausen . More recently, the Charité Museum of Medical History reopened last year after an extensive expansion and modernisation and today houses 10,000 pathological and anatomical specimens that span 300 years of medical history. Berlin is also now home to the fourth global outpost of Fotografiska, a network of photography museums and culture hubs that exhibits creative titans like Leibovitz and Warhol while also making room for emerging local talent. Here, the space is a storied 1908 building heavily damaged during Second World War bombing and used as an artist squat, bar and rave venue over the past 25 years, thereby being spared by the city’s wrecking ball.

The ongoing cultural and creative evolution of Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport is equally fascinating: this is Europe’s largest historic monument, with the curve of the building stretching 1.2 kilometres. The massive, unfinished building is a window into the turbulent history of this enigmatic city, and the new open-air History Gallery and public access to Tempelhofer Tower will provide views over Tempelhofer Feld and the ongoing urban development in this little-known but vital district that dates back to the Knights Templar and the city’s founding. And in 2026, the anticipated Museum of the 20th Century will launch as one of Europe’s finest.

Matching the city’s cultural wattage is its economic might that transcends its global bastions of industry like Deutsche Telekom, Delivery Hero and Deutsche Bahn, and regional HQs for Bombardier Transportation, Pfizer, Sony and Total (all helping the city rank #16 in our Global Fortune 500 subcategory). 

Stealthily, Berlin is Top 3 in Europe in our Startups subcategory, trailing only London and Paris. With its relative affordability, bounteous post-secondary options and resulting highly skilled workforce, venture funding has been pouring in: according to Berlin Startup Map, the city currently boasts approximately 4,400 startups.

The talent is also attracting massive domestic and foreign investment into the city and its suburbs. Last year, Volkswagen AG announced further increases in tech-related investments to keep pace with Tesla’s nearby investment in 2022. U.S.-based semiconductors, software and services company Qualcomm just opened a new office in Berlin to be closer to the European auto market. London-based data centre provider Virtus has announced a €3-billion “mega-campus” just outside of town, and U.K. real-estate developer, investor and asset manager Verdion is exploring a €100-million logistics hub in a brownfield 30 minutes from the city centre.

No wonder Berlin ranks in the Top 5 in our Creative Class subcategory.

Few cities serve up the ability to walk Western history like Roma. Heck, Palatine Hill alone invites you into two millennia’s worth if you’ve got an hour. And that’s just the stuff you can see. In the past year, construction projects have unearthed everything from a rare fourth-century golden glass depiction of Roma—the goddess personifying the city—to a life-sized marble statue of a Roman emperor dressed as Hercules. “The millennial history of our city never ceases to amaze and enchant the world,” posted Roberto Gualtieri, mayor of Rome, after a recent find. The treasure trove is increasingly being shared with locals and visitors, like the Largo di Torre Argentina site of Julius Caesar’s assassination, opened with the contribution of Italian jewellery brand Bulgari last June.

Mix in underrated parks and greenways (Rome ranks #8 in our Outdoors subcategory) and its thousands of portals back in time (Sights & Landmarks rank in the Top 3 in Europe) and it’s easy to see how Rome remains an urban treasure, drawing record post-pandemic tourists despite historic heat waves that exceeded 41 degrees Celsius last summer. Declarations of love for the city have multiplied with social media channels, of course, and Rome trails only London in our global Tripadvisor Reviews subcategory. The city is reopening fast, with new restaurants like Pulejo, Don Pasquale and Romanè, and Seen by Olivier, the spectacular rooftop restaurant at the new Anantara hotel. The property is one of several global hospitality brands that are sprinkled around the city like pecorino on a plate of cacio e pepe. The first Six Senses property to open in Italy (in a UNESCO-listed palazzo minutes from the Trevi and Pantheon) kicked off a busy 2023 for hotel openings, followed by the Bulgari Roma, with Chef Niko Romito—of three-Michelin-starred Reale in the country’s Abruzzo region—running its two rooms in a monastery from the 1500s. This year’s hotel pipeline includes the Thompson Rome, and properties from Four Seasons, Corinthia, Nobu, Rosewood and a few gilded others.

Madrid’s sustainability-driven investment in its bounteous urban and natural assets is a wonder to watch unfold in real time. It starts, not surprisingly, with reuse and the conviction that everything old can be new again. Take the new Santander Park, an instant citizen and visitor destination that used to be a golf course. A 75-kilometre urban forest network with nearly half-a-million new trees will connect the city’s existing forest masses and reuse derelict sites between roads and buildings. Upon completion, this “green wall” is projected to help absorb 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and mitigate the city’s worsening urban heat. This investment in its outdoor realm will improve Madrid’s #14 ranking in our Outdoors subcategory, especially combined with how safe the city has become. Madrid’s electric bus network trails only that of Berlin in Europe and new EV charging stations (ranked #23) and bike lanes are everywhere. 

But the biggest news is the recent full approval of Madrid Nuevo Norte, the largest current urban regeneration project in Europe, in the city’s underused northern rail district: more than 220 hectares dedicated to the Madrid of the future. The city is also going all in on its already formidable Culture-scape (ranked #3 in Europe), from newly opened local indie cinemas like Cines Embajadores to the mind-blowing unveiling of the Royal Collections Gallery, considered the country’s most significant museum in decades. Located next to the Royal Palace of Madrid, the space was dug out from rock under Campo del Moro gardens to Armería square, and will be the centre of all Patrimonio Nacional’s cultural activities and royal collections. It will also help the Spanish head of state restore, conserve and share the country’s historical, cultural and natural heritage.

With all this investment, it’s a good thing the city’s Adolog Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has earmarked €2.4 billion to become the EU’s largest, although work isn’t scheduled to begin until 2031.

Pandemic lockdowns broke the overtourism wave that was cresting over Prague’s beguiling Gothic streets, allowing the city to implement resident-first policies and maintain a sense of ownership. It’s a massive job in any city, much less one that threads the needle as one of the world’s rare urban centres that ranks in the Top 10 in both our overall Livability (#7) and Lovability (#8) indices. Still, over the past 18 months, city leaders made long-lasting decisions to ensure that Prague’s #3-ranked Museums (ahead of places like Berlin, Rome and Madrid) and Attractions (which trail only London) remain accessible to the citizens who supported local when tourism didn’t. Places like the Čapadlo embankment on the Vltava River have become open-air stages and galleries reminiscent of Paris. Náplavka, with its former ice-storage spaces ensconced in the river’s retaining walls, was reborn as a vibrant urban market and series of pop-up bars. Prague’s compact, fairy-tale walkability enchants in centuries-old cobbled streets and the (publicly accessible) hilltop Prague Castle, which has emerged from lockdown alongside Salm Palace—home to National Gallery exhibition spaces—fully renovated. The Baroque Clam-Gallas Palace in Old Town is also newly reopened and eager to be admired. 

The city is spotlighting its plentiful regional charms this year, too. The new Beer Spa lets visitors dip in a wood hot tub filled with hops, yeast and beer extracts (locals swear it’s great for the skin and restoring energy, especially with the beer taps only an arm’s-length away.) Meanwhile, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death and the writer’s hometown is making sure the world remembers, from literary walking tours to exhibits across the city. Given Prague’s literary pedigree, is it any wonder it tops Europe in our Creative Class subcategory? The city’s four universities, relative affordability and #3-ranked nightlife have inspired young talent and billions in foreign investment to pour in—from real estate developers to long-established firms like Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle doubling down on a good thing.

7. Barcelona

As if Barcelona, with its near-perfect year-round weather, striking architecture and kilometres of golden sandy beaches within city limits wasn’t revered enough already, 2024 will make it a must-visit, across Europe and the world. The big news, of course, is that after almost a century and a half, Gaudí’s famous church, the Sagrada Familia, is almost finished. The towers of the evangelists John and Matthew lit up the city last Christmas season, leaving only the sixth and final 173-metre Jesus Christ tower to open in 2026. Despite having the EU’s highest density of cars (6,000 per square kilometre) and replacing a pro-walking and biking mayor Ada Colau (the city’s first woman to hold the role) with the car-championing Jaume Collboni last May, the city continues to unveil ambitious pedestrian projects. Barcelona just opened its €50-million Consell de Cent, 21 pedestrianised blocks that used to be a four-lane cross-town street, part of what is being called a “green axis” urban park in an area popular with both locals and visitors. Dotted with benches and community squares, the pathway gained its inspiration from a local pilot project that, unsurprisingly, improved citizens’ mental health. Given the city’s Top 5 ranking in our Lovability index, the 12 million annual tourists who flocked here pre-pandemic, more than doubling Barcelona’s population, are headed back. The city’s implementation of some of Europe’s strictest vacation rental rules will be tested as it aims to resupply a chronic shortage of resident housing. Barcelona is also no longer content with digital nomads, and is now aggressively securing massive foreign investment, ranging from Lufthansa Group, the largest airline group in Europe (which opened its first southern European digital hub last year) to U.S. real estate developer Panattoni (which will invest $300 million to build the largest data centre in the region). The city’s #7 Startups ranking will only improve as global innovation investment, like Intel’s recent Barcelona Supercomputing Centre initiative as part of a €33-billion EU-wide semiconductor push, comes online.

8. Amsterdam

Mayor Halsema’s administration is showing a practical stewardship of a place (and citizens) once abandoned to the tourist euro by co-authoring a future of accountability among everyone who calls the magnetic Dutch capital home. Take a 2022 approach to a refugee accommodation crisis that led to hundreds of unhoused migrants, many fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sleeping outside the city’s overflowing resource centres: accommodate more than 1,000 on a moored cruise ship for six months, buying vital time to find other arrangements. 

This care for others and willingness for locals to do the work is represented by the city’s Top 10 ranking in our overall Prosperity index. The infamous nightlife (ranked #9 in Europe) that the city was known and often marketed for—despite the attendant human trafficking—was another opportunity to right long-time local complaints, with civic leaders going so far as to move the red-light district out of the famed De Wallen neighbourhood to a suburban Erotic Centre while banning non-residents from cannabis cafés and ditching tours that glorify the city’s baser side. Things escalated in 2023, when smoking pot in public was banned outright and the city launched a “stay away” campaign targetting party tourism (although the mayor herself admits it hasn’t worked all that well). Restaurants and bars have been asked to close by 2 a.m. on weekends and new visitors are not allowed to enter the old city district after 1 a.m.

Stepping in for vice are tours and programmes focusing on the city’s livability and Dutch history. And on getting tourists (who numbered 22 million in 2019) away from the city centre and out to the #6-ranked shopping and #7-ranked museums that pepper the city. This past summer, city council also banned cruise ships from the city centre as part of its clean-air efforts.

9. Istanbul

The ancient collision between Europe and Asia radiates in Türkiye’s (and Europe’s) largest city. It’s why the city is among the most beguiling for its sense of place, inside and out. Its Top 10 Sights & Landmarks ranking, as well as its impressive #4 spot in our Outdoors subcategory, will improve as a result of the extensive renovations completed for the Turkish Republic’s centennial in October 2023. The devastating February 2023 earthquakes that killed tens of thousands in the country’s southeast and in Syria (and that flooded the capital with survivors) have sounded the alarms about Istanbul’s own preparation for a potential destructive quake. The tragedy has cast a pall around new openings like Galataport, Istanbul’s reinvigorated historic harbour. Extending a mile along the Bosporus Strait near the city’s long-coveted Karaköy district, the $1.7-billion project boasts the world’s first-ever underground cruise terminal. More recently, the luxury Peninsula Istanbul opened last spring, capping a blazing year for hotels that includes the seafront luxury resort JW Marriott Marmara Sea and a dozen others. The city’s #6-ranked museums also get a boost from the Galataport investment, with the Istanbul Modern, the city’s first contemporary art museum (designed by Renzo Piano), returning to its Karaköy roots. Despite the city’s lauded low cost of living (#6 in our Monthly Rent subcategory), the past year saw inflation-driven property costs skyrocket 77.6% in the third quarter compared to the previous year according to property consultant Knight Frank. But perhaps, given Istanbul’s ascendant global importance, the cost of entry finally went up. The transportation infrastructure is certainly sparing no expense, with a web of high-speed rail networks planned out of the city by the end of the decade, and the Istanbul Grand Airport’s plans to be the world’s largest by 2028, its 10th year of operation.

The birthplace of Armani, Versace and dozens of other megawatt icons is no longer content with being Europe’s fashion and design centre. Or even Italy’s financial heart. Milan is driven, as always, by its entrepreneurial hunger and is increasingly fuelled by wealthy newcomers lured to the famed good life by government tax breaks on foreign income earned abroad. The result is an influx of Brexit (and Russian) capital seeking a home, and the flurry of luxury real estate, hotels and social clubs that such capital inspires. The Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection unveiled the Portrait Milano in one of Europe’s oldest seminaries, complete with a massive piazza. U.S. networking broker Core Club is opening in a nearby palazzo, its first outside of San Francisco and New York City. And there are two W properties on the scene: the 116-room W Milan that opened last year, housed within a 1950s building on Piazzetta Bossi near La Scala opera house, and this year’s 166-room W Milan Duomo, located in a century-old bank building and designed by local firm Stefano Boeri Architetti and international design house Yabu Pushelberg. This strategic proximity to other European capitals and alpine resorts pulling in the global elite also won the city the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and a rush of development that includes a long-awaited train link between Milan Bergamo Airport and the centro, with a new four-platform airport rail station. Its #6 ranking in our Airport Connectivity subcategory will only improve with terminal expansion. The city is welcoming a torrent of new flights from Asia, and, last June, Milan Bergamo received a record 50,242 passengers in one day. Hopefully Milan’s #4 ranking in our Biking subcategory helps everyone get around.

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Switzerland’s financial centre and largest metropolis is a magnet for foreigners who, along with multilingual Swiss nationals, enjoy one of the world’s highest standards of living. The city ranks in the Top 3 in Europe in our overall Prosperity index, powered by an industrious citizenry that ranks #3 in both our Labour-Force Participation and Global Fortune 500 subcategories, with major European players like Migros and UBS AG based here. The city’s population is also the largest it’s been since the halcyon days of the early 1960s and, in late 2023, a European Commission study named Zürich residents the continent’s happiest, at 97%. Europe’s second-highest disposable household income certainly helps, as does the ability to keep the good times going with a local talent pipeline from Insead Business School and ETH Zürich (aka the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). All that talent is getting on corporate site selector radars, as evidenced by Microsoft’s opening of a new technology centre at the Zürich Airport to “deliver immersive industry experiences and deep technical engagement focused on business outcomes to customers,” according to the company. The airport, ranked #14, will only catch up with the city it serves after a multistage renovation is completed in 2026.

Vienna has long stepped boldly into the Herculean tasks facing the global cities that are serious about their role as urban beacons. Despite its globally coveted real estate, 60% of the city’s population resides in subsidised apartments and 25% of homes are owned by the city. And it’s boldly tackling the climate emergency, with 2022’s declaration of carbon neutrality by 2040 besting the Paris Agreement by a decade. Already topping Europe in our Biking subcategory, the Austrian capital is adding dozens of bike paths annually to its 1,650-kilometre cycling network, including the unveiling of its “cycle highway” connecting downtown with the expansive green spaces of the 22nd district, home to Aspern Seestadt, one of Europe’s largest urban development projects centred on transit, walking and biking. But the city is also playing as hard as it works, with massive cultural investments opening to eager residents and visitors alike—from the extensively renovated Wien Museum, a love letter to the city if there ever was one, to the brand-new House of Strauss museum, dedicated to “The Blue Danube” composer Johann Strauss. The city’s Top 10 Museums ranking will only improve this decade. And the launch of Vienna’s first food hall, Gleisgarten, and central Europe’s first Rosewood Hotel will only add to the city’s kinetic 2024.

The global Oktoberfest HQ and Germany’s third-largest city works as hard as it plays, becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations for talent seeking this elusive balance. The pandemic only highlighted the productivity of understated Bavarian innovation, especially in the public realm when the “temporary” initiatives—from outdoor seating to a reimagined concrete factory—became permanent. But this is Germany after all and there’s productivity to think about. Munich boasts a #4 ranking for Global Fortune 500 companies in Europe (made up primarily of automakers, media and manufacturing, but quickly being joined by biotech and IT giants), which drive a Top 5 GDP per Capita ranking. Expect more commerce once the #9-ranked airport unveils its €500-million reno by the time you read this. Not surprisingly, the Technical University of Munich, which brands itself “the Entrepreneurial University,” impressively, supplied much of the local talent pipeline. With all that citizen-focused infrastructure and entrepreneurship, Munich ranks #12 in our overall Prosperity index, including #4 for Global Fortune 500 headquarters. This year, Apple will invest an additional billion dollars as part of its Silicon Design Center expansion in the city. Also just opened is the Rosewood Munich, a must-stay for work or pleasure.

Relatively safe, gregarious and increasingly wealthy, the Celtic Tiger has never been fiercer, topping the continent in our GDP per Capita subcategory and reaching #7 for the Global Fortune 500 firms that call it home. The magnetism is obvious in places like the Docklands area, called Silicon Docks, home to big tech and digital players including Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Apple and Airbnb. They come for some of the world’s lowest corporate taxes and stay for homegrown economic development initiatives like Ireland’s Local Enterprise Office’s mentoring, training and financial grants. No wonder a dozen or so hotels opened in the past year—from luxury property The Leinster in Merrion Square near the Natural History Museum and National Gallery to international boutique forays like NYX Dublin south of downtown. Several internationally renowned universities (Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and Dublin City University) help the city attract startups looking for a smaller, relatively affordable capital. It helps that it offers intrepid employees a bounty after work, which Dublin’s beer-forward nightlife (ranked #12) provides, along with a Top 10 Culture ranking. New locally reverent initiatives like the Museum of Literature Ireland maintain the city’s ancient pride of place for both locals and newcomers.

You’re not imagining it: all of your friends are going to Lisbon. Portugal’s capital rode the wave of the country’s record 30 million visitors and €25 billion in revenue in 2023, including nearly 800,000 passing through Lisbon Cruise Port alone. But it’s only partially for the 2,799 annual hours of sunshine—the most of any European capital. There’s also the famed public transit, walkability and the hundreds of kilometres of new bike paths meandering through the city’s Top 5-ranked Outdoors. Newcomers continue to pour in, goaded by various “best lists” for both digital nomads and international retirees that sing Lisbon’s praises. Of course this has sent rents and house prices soaring. The government is tinkering with new remote work visas (the latest requires a monthly salary of $2,750) while ending overly generous foreign residencies. Temporary bans on Airbnb licences are attempting to keep the city accessible for residents whose minimum wage is well under €700 per month. Still, new allures like the city’s most recent Michelin-starred, Japanese-influenced Kabuki and Kanazawa keep global travellers flowing in (the city ranks #9 in Europe for Restaurants), as do exciting new hotels like the Mateus, in collaboration with the famed rosé vintner.

16. Stockholm

No other Scandinavian city serves up a sensory feast like Stockholm. The Swedish capital boasts mind-bending geography (the city centre was built on 14 islands) and salt- and fresh-water outdoor swimming areas amid bounteous public green space (second only to Oxford). Then there’s Stockholm’s history of innovation, from the 1700s architecture and daring modern design of Gamla Stan to the infusion of tradition into its buzzy New Nordic cuisine. Throw in a multicultural population (reflected in its Top 10 ranking in Foreign-Born Residents) and an epic summer season with near-constant daylight and you’ve got a place that is equally welcoming and restlessly ambitious. Stockholm built the world’s largest open-fibre network in the 1990s, followed a decade or so later by the launch of global hits like Skype, Spotify and Minecraft—earning the city the moniker of “The Unicorn Factory.” More billion-dollar startups have launched here than in any place outside of Silicon Valley. A wander through the recently gentrified Södermalm neighbourhood, the birthplace of many tech giants, reveals why the city tops Europe in both our Labor Force Participation and Creative Class subcategories. And why it ranks in the Top 5 in our overall Prosperity ranking.

17. Hamburg

Hamburg is both Europe’s second-largest shipping port and a serious contender for “Venice of the North,” with a stunning lake and a latticework of canals. Emblematic of this is the €638-million Elbphilharmonie, a spectacular concert hall that combines 19th-century marine trade warehouses with the crystalline architecture and acoustics of the future. Hamburg’s commitment to the arts powers it to #13 in Europe in our Culture subcategory. Its nightlife (made famous by the nascent Beatles in the early 1960s) hasn’t lost a beat, ranking #17. Hamburg comes by its opulence and sophistication honestly, with a workforce that ranks #14 for both GDP per Capita and Foreign-Born Residents. And this being Germany, inclusion is the price of doing business, evident in the city’s signature redevelopment project, HafenCity, set to open in 2026. In Europe’s biggest inner-city urban development—which, over more than a decade, is transforming 250 hectares of tumbledown docks along the port area into a buzzing shopping and residential area—a third of housing is subsidised while another third is rental. Ambitious city-building continues in the burbs, too, with an innovative car-free neighbourhood being built a 15-minute train ride from the centre.

18. Brussels

Understated Brussels boasts breathtaking architecture (especially for Art Nouveau aficionados). Consider Grand Place—surely among the most beautiful squares in the world. The city has invested in public spaces, like the Tour & Taxis Food Market under the glass roofs of the former Gare Maritime, and the Grand Hospice, a repurposed neoclassical complex with beautiful colonnades and an interior park. Despite being the EU’s administrative centre, one of the city’s most famous landmarks is Manneken Pis, a statue of a naked boy peeing into a fountain—a symbol of locals’ contempt for authority. The wit emanates from a vibrant, educated, international citizenry (Brussels trails only Luxembourg in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory). Get local in the Congolese Matonge quarter’s flea markets and street art. Or at the Working From_ co-working space in the Hoxton Hotel. The city is a gathering spot for conferences and summits of all kinds, facilitated by the torrid expansion of global flights that will improve its #7 Airport Connectivity ranking. The Brussels Midi station is also the hub for a country with some of the world’s densest rail networks, and that is quickly expanding inter-city and overnight connections all over the continent.

Warsaw is turning on the afterburners it spent a generation fine-tuning. Trailing only Dublin for GDP per Capita and boasting Europe’s fourth-highest educated citizenry (to say nothing of finally securing a pro-EU national government a few months back) Warsaw is buzzing like few times in its history: from the rebuild of the 17th-century Saski Palace destroyed by the Nazis to a new cultural complex for both the Museum of Modern Art and the TR Warszawa Theatre set to open this year to the christening of a once-derelict 19th-century Haberbusch & Schiele Brewery as a local craft beer temple now known as Browary Warszawskie. Infrastructure buildout is equally kinetic. The new 310-metre Foster + Partners-designed Varso Tower is the EU’s tallest building and is home to global firms hoping to tap into the smart, affordable talent. The same architecture firm is also designing the CPK Airport—a “transport interchange which brings together air, rail and road”—that is set to open in 2028 about 40 kilometres southwest of Warsaw. Plans are for it to link into the massive Rail Baltica high-speed railway connecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Poland and the rest of Europe.

20. Budapest

Budapest is synonymous with digital nomads and bold companies looking for old European vibrancy on a budget (and the first-mover advantage that comes with it). The city, split by the expansive bend of the Danube River, keeps delivering. On the west bank is medieval Buda, hilly and full of history, and on the east is Pest, modern and bohemian, with its recently revamped City Park. Last year marked 150 years of their unification, featuring epic celebrations around the newly renovated iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a symbol of togetherness for a city that ranks #2 for keeping residents out of poverty. The city’s underrated attractions already rank in the Top 5 in Europe and the #11 Museums ranking will only keep ascending with the new opening of the Museum of Ethnography, as will the city’s #12 Culture ranking with the new House of Music Hungary and the Hungarian State Opera. All that buzz is drawing big hotel investment, from the new Matild Palace—the city’s first Luxury Collection hotel—opening inside a UNESCO landmark in 2022, joining newcomers Párisi Udvar Hotel, W Budapest and the Dorothea Hotel (whose rooftop is a sweet dinner spot before hitting Europe’s 11th-best nightlife).

21. Frankfurt

Given its enviable location in the geographic heart of Europe (and its #4-ranked airport, soon to be able to serve 100 million passengers annually) combined with its swift courtship of post-Brexit finance firms looking for stability, is it any wonder Frankfurt is today known as “Mainhatten”? More than 200 banks call the city home, including 160 international firms, the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Germany’s largest. As a result, the city ranks in the Top 5 in our Global Fortune 500 subcategory and its citizenry’s GDP per Capita ranking is in the Top 10 in Europe. Then there’s the ongoing buildout of the infrastructure required to house all that foreign direct investment, which today means the city boasts 14 of Germany’s 15 tallest buildings. Another eight skyscrapers, some well over 200 metres tall, are currently being built. This year’s focus is on FOUR Frankfurt, a live-work neighbourhood of four towers in the financial district. Besides banking, the startup ecosystem is also ascendant (ranking #44 in our Startups subcategory), with insurance, cybersecurity and fintech inspired by the success of insurance platform unicorn Clark, which hit a valuation of US$1 billion in 2021.

22. Helsinki

The capital of the world’s happiest country for the sixth year in a row (according to the 2023 World Happiness Report) must be doing something right. And no, it’s just not Finland’s new NATO membership. For starters, Helsinki doubled down on emergency outdoor placemaking measures during COVID and has kept the massive, purpose-built outdoor seating areas and other similar communal infrastructure projects largely intact, while city leaders continue to generously fund citizen community improvement projects. It’s the kind of sensible urban cohesion you’d expect from a city that boasts the sixth-lowest poverty rate in Europe, as well as its 11th-highest rate of labour-force participation. The city’s natural bounty continues to expand with new trails, parks and an urban ferry system throughout a grid that ranks #15 in our Green Space subcategory. Curious visitors are filling new hotels in repurposed spaces like GLO Hotel’s restored 1920s bank location near the port and the Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokka’s converted former prison. The just-opened Hotel Maria (housed in four historic city buildings) aspires to be the city’s “first true five-star destination,” according to founder, developer and former three-time Finnish Olympic gold medallist Samppa Lajunen.

No longer overshadowed by Stockholm and Copenhagen, Oslo is proving itself a worthy destination all its own. Its #30 Museums ranking will improve with the recent opening of Munch, a waterfront museum dedicated to the Expressionist painter of “The Scream”. It, along with new districts like Sørenga, comprise the recently unveiled eastern waterfront that makes the entire harbour walkable via a 10-kilometre trail network. Newer still is the downtown National Museum, which replaced several cultural buildings, including the National Gallery. It houses classical and contemporary art and architecture studies and is today the largest art exhibition space in Scandinavia. Above the city, Rose Castle unveiled a permanent installation of paintings and sculptures that tells the story of Oslo’s resilience during the Second World War. No wonder its citizens rank #15 in our Labour Force Participation subcategory, supported by 50-plus startup hubs helping make Oslo one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities (ranking #11 for Foreign-Born Residents). The dozen floating saunas downtown are equally magnetic. Much-needed housing is aggressively being built in places like Fjord City on industrial port lands. As more talent discovers the drivers of Oslo’s Top 10 overall Prosperity ranking, its pull will only strengthen.

A globally vital city in a snow globe? Geneva comes close. With just 600,000 residents yet home to the European seat of the United Nations, the international headquarters of the Red Cross and more than 200 international organisations, the city does well by doing good, ranking #8 in Europe for GDP per Capita, #3 in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory and #4 for the disposable income they bring home. The commitment to urban tranquillity was made official in 1949 when the Geneva Conventions, which focus on the welfare and protection of prisoners of war, wounded participants and innocents caught up in conflict, were signed here. The city was settled millennia ago and became a Roman outpost cherished for the sparkling waters of its eponymous lake with the confluence of the mighty river Rhône, along with the thermal pools with views of the soaring Alps and the Jura Mountains. Not the outdoors type? Get into inner space at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), housing the 27-kilometre Large Hadron Collider particle accelerator just outside of town. The newly opened Renzo Piano-designed CERN Science Gateway is a family-friendly introduction to the future of quantum physics.

With a legacy spanning nine centuries as a place of learning, Oxford’s eponymous university—imprinted on the city itself to the point of being indiscernible from it—offers 350 graduate courses, affiliated societies and hundreds of education-focused organisations and businesses. Students of all kinds continue to pour into the compact city (the second smallest in our Top 25 this year, next to Dublin), and first-timers become instantly smitten by the jagged cobblestones, the 500-year-old pubs and the Gothic and neoclassical buildings and spires above, all standing sentry to the enlightenment here. The city’s 40,000 students help Oxford rank #9 for Educational Attainment, and the city’s ancient commitment to accessibility, along with a newer one to equity, ranks it #7 for Poverty Rate. Those residents who stay in town after graduation enjoy the ninth-highest disposable income in Europe. In addition to the usual magnetism of this curated, stewarded urban treasure on the banks of the Thames (called “Isis” locally), new post-pandemic investments are buzzing, from the Randolph Hotel’s reno by new owners Graduate Hotels to East Oxford’s new restaurant wave. Ancient urbanism aside, the city tops our Green Space subcategory, validated further by its centuries of inspiring luminaries the likes of JRR Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers and Philip Pullman.

Even by European second-city status, Naples has been overlooked and underestimated—both by international visitors and by Italy’s power centres. Three millennia of urbanism make it one of Europe’s oldest—with the accompanying layers of beauty, conflict and lore ( grazie , Elena Ferrante). Naples tops Europe in our Parks & Recreation subcategory, buoyed by the city’s historic waterfront, nearby beaches and parks ranging from master-planned parcels to secret public gardens. Napoli also ranks #4 for Sights & Landmarks—its centuries-old Naples Cathedral rivals any other in the sensual feast that is Italy, and new archaeological discoveries near Pompeii will only add to global bucket lists. Like in Rome and Istanbul, strolling here reveals forgotten history on every block. Despite the city’s lawless reputation, tourism has doubled over the past decade, and crime has dropped dramatically (being now more confined to the “victim knew the suspect” variety). New international investments (like the W Naples inside a historic bank building on the kinetic Piazza del Municipio) are finally reaching one of the continent’s most beguiling cities. A new high-speed rail link to Rome’s Fiumicino airport is increasingly delivering curious first-timers to la città that’s now in the Top 10 in our Nightlife, Museums and Restaurants subcategories.

27. Manchester

You’ll be hearing a lot more about Manchester this decade as the historic engine of English industry shifts into cultural and creative output that eclipses anything else going on in the U.K., or even in Europe. The UNESCO City of Literature has never been short on storytelling talent, given that its residents include director Danny Boyle and artists like Oasis, Morrissey and, most recently and notably, Harry Styles, who is an investor and champion of Co-op Live, the U.K.’s largest new music arena, set to open in mid-2024 with 23,500 seats. A series of festivals and conferences this year—from Beyond the Music to the Worldwide Music Expo—keep Manchester’s music investment going all year. Not forgotten are the city’s smaller concert venues that have launched legends in previous decades, renovated and reopening to join the party this year, ensuring that the city’s #24 ranking in our Culture subcategory will ascend quickly. Another recently opened arts behemoth is Factory International, the U.K.’s priciest cultural project since Tate Modern. The city’s #16-ranked airport should be fully renovated next year, with passenger levels last year well above 2019, including dozens of new international connections to places like China and the Middle East.

28. Copenhagen

Copenhagen’s compact, park-filled urban grid, connected by serpentine bike lanes that end at clean, city-sanctioned urban swimming spots (and public hot tubs!), earned the world’s locked-down attention during the pandemic. That same attention returned last year, by way of a UNESCO Capital of Architecture designation. Events are going on until 2026, at formal venues like the Danish Architecture Center, but also at places like the waterfront Opera Park, an urban green space designed for climate resilience. The old Carlsberg brewery, newly reimagined as a community venue, anchors the city’s newest destination district. But nothing compares to the building of Lynetteholm, a 275-hectare artificial island off the city’s coast, housing 35,000 people while hoping to protect the harbour from rising water and storms. Copenhagen’s commitment to sustainability is nothing new: it has long invested in its cycling infrastructure (for which it ranks #34), attempting to make 50% of all work and school commutes on bicycles by next year, as well as helping Denmark reach overall carbon neutrality by 2050. Transit buildout is everywhere, connecting more affordable districts on the city’s outskirts, most notably the much-needed Sydhavn connector opening any month now. An international transit link to Malmö, Sweden, is also planned.

29. Edinburgh

The Scottish capital has long enchanted creative souls with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Gothic architecture, moody weather and the legacy of the literary masters who’ve flocked here for both. But a growing appreciation of the city’s arts programming (long powered by the storied University of Edinburgh and the second-most educated citizenry in Europe) has inspired hotel investment to accommodate tourists and talent. The renovated Scottish National Gallery project reopened last year to showcase the Scottish collection right in the heart of the city, while the upstart Hidden Doors Festival takes over unused spaces for art shows for a second year. The city’s world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be bigger than ever in 2024, complete with a cruise-ship-turned-floating-hotel called the FringeShip. On the heels of last year’s opening of the luxury Gleneagles Townhouse on St Andrew Square in the former Bank of Scotland came the announcement of a 2026 Dalata property a few doors away. These days the buzz is all around the massive redevelopment of St James Quarter, anchored by the 244-room W Edinburgh. The city works hard, too, obvious by its #6 ranking for GDP per Capita and locally inspired ventures like the Port of Leith Distillery, the U.K.’s first vertical distiller.

Secluded on the banks of the emerald Aare River, Switzerland’s capital city is too often overlooked (see its #124 ranking in our overall Lovability category—the lowest-ranked capital by far, with some social media and search metrics well out of the Top 100). We’re all sleeping on Bern. This UNESCO World Heritage Old City is peppered with historic architecture, like the Zytglogge medieval clock tower, the Parliament Building and hundreds of magical (and Instagrammable) nooks to grab coffee, raclette or craft beer (Bern boasts the highest density of microbreweries in Switzerland). Tasting and shopping often takes place in 12th-century vaulted cellars built to store grains and wines. If you only have time for one, make it Café Marta, especially at apéro hour for local beverages and baked goods. Here you’ll find locals with the highest disposable income in Europe. Given that residents also rank #12 for Labour Force Participation, their apéro is well earned. The city also ranks in the Top 3 in Europe for Green Space, with verdant tree cover that always reminds visitors and residents alike that the city is Switzerland’s gateway to the natural majesty of the Alps.

31. Lausanne

Nestled between Lake Geneva and vineyards that climb up to snowy Alps, Switzerland’s fourth-largest city on some days looks like a CGI setting in a Lord of the Rings film. The local vibe is distinctly working to live, with efficient commerce carried out in the largely car-free medieval city centre powered by the focused, vital companies that call Lausanne home, as diverse as the International Olympic Committee (since 1914), Logitech and Nespresso. The result is a #3 ranking for both Foreign-Born Residents and Disposable Household Income (with the 11th-highest GDP per Capita ranking). The pipeline of global talent that pours into the city also gives Lausanne a high-end campus feel, courtesy of places like the International Institute for Management Development, a leading business school, as well as the multitude of graduate studies offered by the University of Lausanne. The city’s nascent culture scene is also on the rise with the recent opening of Plateforme 10, an arts district launched in 2020 that’s been buzzing with new galleries like Photo Elysée, shops and museums, including the new home of the city’s international art museum and the recently opened Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts (mudac).

32. Luxembourg

Luxembourg may be tiny in relation to larger neighbours Belgium, France and Germany, yet its capital city over-performs in the talent that calls it home. A city that boasts the highest share of foreign-born residents of any European city maintains its coveted hometown status by paying Europe’s seventh-highest disposable income. More than 170 nationalities live here, making Luxembourg a true economic, social and cultural melting pot—fitting, given the destruction it endured during the Second World War. Where does the city’s wealth originate? The efficient bank sector (finance comprises 25% of local GDP) for one, as well as being the Secretariat of the European Parliament and headquarters of the European Court of Justice. The capital of the only Grand Duchy in the world—you might run into the duke in your wanderings—remains one of the continent’s best-kept secrets (given its #92 Lovability ranking among the Top 100 in Europe) despite being an urban UNESCO World Heritage site that’s rarely overrun by visitors. But the world is noticing and the city has vowed to invest €500 million in affordable rental housing to keep its talent pipeline stocked.

Switzerland’s third-largest city is enchanting long-time citizens, new talent and curious visitors like never before. Its appeal may be due to its relative obscurity, tucked on the banks of the Rhine River in the country’s north (its northern city limits are minutes from the French and German borders). The natural boundary of the Jura Mountains has also left the city to evolve over the centuries with moderate influence from Bern. From the #15-ranked bike infrastructure on the continent to centuries’ worth of daring architecture, few cities with this few people leave you as breathless as Basel. Locals certainly savour their city’s special blend, and, given Basel’s #5 ranking for Disposable Household Income, as well as #8 for Foreign-Born Residents, they’re spreading the word to fellow high-performers. The talent is scooped up not only by the deep culture sector, but also by “Europe’s BioValley,” the tri-nation life sciences cluster stretching from Basel into France and Germany. Even before Moderna chose the city as its coronavirus vaccine HQ during the pandemic’s first year or medicinal psychedelic firm MindMed opened its R&D centre, Basel was home to pharmaceuticals giant Novartis, which recently unveiled a publicly accessible “campus of knowledge and innovation.”

34. Birmingham

Birmingham (or “Brum”), the largest city in the West Midlands and second largest in England, has resumed its skyward trajectory of the Golden Decade before COVID hit. The 2010s saw a massive influx of Global Fortune 500 regional offices chasing one of Europe’s youngest workforces (today, about 40% are under 25) and their coveted skills in finance and professional services, among a multitude of others honed at the city’s eponymous university. Urban investment followed, from the opening of Europe’s largest library to plans (coming to life this decade) for a high-speed rail network called HS2, where a trip to London can be made in 36 minutes. This, of course, makes Birmingham’s airport (ranked #109) a suddenly convenient option to access the country’s capital, and there’s fittingly an ongoing €350-million investment plan to increase the airport’s capacity to 18 million passengers by 2033. The number of jobs being created is staggering, especially in the booming life sciences and green technology clusters as both the government and private local companies like Land Rover and Jaguar rush toward renewables. Given all the big news in town, it’s no wonder that Birmingham will be the new headquarters of national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland as of April 2024.

35. The Ruhr

Western Germany’s far-flung former coal-mining and industrial western metropolis is, at 53 towns and cities (Dortmund, Essen and Oberhausen being the best known), the country’s largest metro by population. At its industrial peak in the post-war 1960s, the area growled with 150 coal mines extracting the fuel to power blast furnaces and steel mills as the continent rebuilt itself. When the coal industry was mothballed in 2018, the Ruhr was already building its next chapter, namely with a cultural legacy as the 2010 European Capital of Culture (the first industrial zone, as opposed to city, to earn that distinction). The area spent the next decade working with what it had, transforming thousands of factories and industrial buildings into hundreds of museums, theatres, galleries and festival spaces, earning a #10 ranking in our Attractions subcategory. Even more remarkable is how a centuries-old extraction zone today ranks in the Top 5 in Europe for Green Space. The Ruhr is also leveraging its 22 universities and colleges and some of the cheapest real estate in Western Europe to draw parallels to Berlin of the early 2000s. Given the housing crises and war for talent happening around the continent, they may just have hit the motherload.

36. Glasgow

Glasgow powers to its European ranking on the strength of its education, including Europe’s second-best educated citizenry (trailing only London) and its eponymous university founded in 1451, the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world. It counts economist Adam Smith and U.S. founding father James Wilson as alumni. People not already here are certainly noticing. Tech startups hungry for cheap space and talent are drawn to the city’s working-class authenticity over pricier European capitals, driving up a #29 ranking for Global Fortune 500 companies and a #30 spot in our Creative Class subcategory. The city’s airport will improve on its #56 ranking, too, with international flights being added in 2024. Emirates, for example, has seen forward bookings between Dubai and Glasgow up by 51% year-on-year. No wonder new hotels are planned for the rest of the decade, with the new Virgin Hotels Glasgow already welcoming guests. But it’s not like Glasgow has gone corporate. This is the home of Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland, and the city is still buzzing from its 2020 designation as the U.K.’s top cultural and creative centre by the European Commission. Its #28 ranking in our Culture subcategory will rise in the coming years.

37. Stuttgart

Stuttgart is a hardworking economic engine that performs across multiple metrics with aplomb. Its residents are as international as they are ambitious, ranking #20 for foreign-born citizenry while cranking out Europe’s 15th-highest GDP per capita. The city’s high score in our overall Prosperity category (#31) is shared among the growing talent base (ranking #14 for Disposable Household Income). The economic rev was sideswiped by the pandemic, when Stuttgart’s optimised meetings and conventions business fell silent. The convention centre has since reopened and doubled down on sustainability, with more than half its area committed to green space and the solar panels on its roof generating surplus electricity for local households. Also buzzing are the streets around the convention centre, as the business travel that fuelled Stuttgart’s party mile for decades—a hub of bars, cafés, clubs and intimate drinking dens—has roared back. Given the pent-up demand, this was one place in Germany where the post-pandemic return to business was swiftest. It’s not surprising: Stuttgart ranks an impressive #11 for Global Fortune 500 companies based here, and is an economic hub boasting the European headquarters of Porsche, Bosch and IBM.

38. Florence

If you’ve never been—or if it’s been a few years since your last visit—it’s time to go, presto . The Renaissance beauty ranks equally well in our Lovability and Livability categories (#17) thanks to #13 Museums and #23 Sights & Landmarks rankings. Housing masterpieces like Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and “Allegory of Spring”, Michelangelo’s “David” and Giotto’s “Ognissanti Madonna”, to name just a few, is, admittedly, an unfair advantage. Of course, in the birthplace of global fashion brands like Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo and all the “ccis” (Pucci, Gucci, Capucci and Ricci), Florence ranks #5 for Shopping and is going luxe on hospitality this year with the new Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, housed in 16th-century buildings that served as chapels, theatres and schools. The 35-metre pool is only outdone by the dedicated local wine programme for guests. Speaking of accommodation, Florence’s historic UNESCO World Heritage centro has more beds listed on Airbnb than residents, with all the implications you’d imagine. As such, city leaders have banned new Airbnb listings in the city, a law that will be tested when the Tour de France comes to the city in late June.

39. Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf has the special blend that makes an efficient, prosperous city do right by residents and (business) travellers alike. Global Fortune 500 companies in town (ranking #29 in Europe) have for decades pulled in international talent that helps the city rank #23 in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory. The understated multiculturalism (including Germany’s largest Japanese community, in the Immermannstrasse area) attracts even more regional offices that provide the North-Rhine Westphalia state capital with Europe’s 27th-highest disposable household income. The small but mighty cultural scene (ranked #61 but poised for big things) supports more than 100 galleries, and Joseph Beuys, the sculptor and performance artist, remains a local icon almost 40 years after his death. The Kunstsammlung North Rhine-Westphalia museum is home to important classical and contemporary European art collections, performances and screenings. The architecture at MedienHafen—a waterfront development juxtaposing old with new—boasts buildings and hotels by Frank Gehry, David Chipperfield, Jo Coenen, Steven Holl and Claude Vasconi alongside restored historic warehouses that maintain the industrial port character of the Rhine. And in 2028, the Japanese starchitect-designed Tadao Ando Campus & Towe in the city’s north will house a hotel, museum, offices, food hall and (this being Germany) a local brewery.

40. Bratislava

Located close to the geographic centre of Europe, the Slovakian capital competes with Vienna, Prague, Kraków and Budapest for both tourism and investment. In fact, no two national capitals are geographically closer than Vienna and Bratislava. An increasing number of foreigners venturing off the beaten path discover a compact, cobblestone-lined Hapsburg heart, crowned by St Martin’s Cathedral and the revitalised but no less historic Kapitulska Street. It’s worth taking in the urban evolution by bike along the city’s bike paths (ranking #7 in Europe), away from the beautiful chaos of fairy-tale spires and Soviet-era monstrosities—like the 95-metre-high UFO Tower, a perch over the Danube River since 1972. (But do grab a drink in its penthouse bar.) Outside Bratislava’s centre, the intrepid can view the future of its skyline: the first towers of the Zaha Hadid Architects–designed Sky Park development that, upon buildout, will feature new residences, an office block and even a heating plant. It’s a welcome addition to an industrious citizenry that ranks #16 in our Labour Force Participation subcategory, in a local economy that ties for the ninth-lowest poverty rate in Europe.

In many ways, France’s fifth-largest city paved the way for the modern European holiday destination. Quite literally: in the 1800s, visionary city leaders convinced vacationing English aristocracy to pay to pave the five kilometres of beachfront, known today as Promenade des Anglais. These days, the stunning urban heart of the Côte d’Azur is as coveted by travellers—who make it the second-most searched city in Europe—as it was by artists like Matisse and Picasso. While it didn’t get the 2028 European Capital of Culture honours it had hoped for (the title went to fellow French metro Bourges), its dozens of museums and galleries—many housed in the city’s bounty of Belle Époque architecture—are buzzing. Hospitality development is also in full swing, led by last year’s opening of the Daniel Libeskind-designed (among others) Gare Thiers-Est, a massive jagged crystal next to the train station, inspired by the mineral forms of azurite found in the region, with high-end shops, a 120-room Hilton hotel, offices and epic public spaces. Old Town gets the luxurious Hotel du Couvent this year, while Anantara Hotels & Resorts opened recently in a 175-year-old icon, joining post-pandemic openings and renos of historic grand dames.

Few cities in Eastern Europe boast more historical significance than Kraków. Largely spared from Second World War bombing, the city features ancient urban gems ranging from the Wawel Royal Castle perched on a hill in all its Gothic-meets-Renaissance glory to the Cloth Hall, that, built in the 1200s, could vie for Europe’s oldest shopping centre. It’s why the city is increasingly a destination for Europeans looking for new urban holidays, with its #13 ranking in Attractions and #20 in Museums, bolstered by this year’s opening of a new home for the Museum of Contemporary Art overlooking the Vistula River. Like in Warsaw, foreign investment is everywhere. Ryanair recently announced a €750-million expansion of its Kraków operations while Google continues to invest. In 2023, Volvo Cars opened an entirely new tech hub to drive electrification, noting the need to beat competitors to Kraków’s untapped talent pool. The investment will create an estimated 500 to 600 local jobs. Office and residential investment is also pouring in, with global real estate developer Panattoni, Finland’s YIT and Hungarian developer Echo Investment all building this decade. A recent local government push to expand bike infrastructure powers Kraków to an impressive #9 in Europe.

43. Cologne

Despite aesthetic riches like the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral that rises above the historic buildings of the city’s Old Town, or the cultural bounty of places like the Museum Ludwig with its 20th-century art, perception of Cologne lags behind its virtues. The city ranks bafflingly low in our Sights & Landmarks (#36), Culture (#34) and Museums (#61) subcategories. That last one hurts, given the range of museums in town, from Middle Ages riches at the Schnütgen, classics at the Wallraf–Richartz and the Picassos and more modern marvels at the Museum Ludwig. The city even has its own beer, Kölsch. Its global ascent is inevitable, especially with both Germans and international visitors rediscovering the city—like the more than 1.2 million who attended the city’s 2023 Pride festivities. Cologne is also a regional business powerhouse and destination, fuelled by its #28-ranked GDP per Capita and subsequent 27th-highest ranking for Disposable Household Income in Europe. Home to Lufthansa, traditionally the second-largest airline in Europe, and the European division of the Ford Motor Company, the city is increasingly investing in its aerospace industry ecosystem and leveraging the German Aerospace Centre and HQ for the European Astronaut Centre that calls the city home.

44. Gothenburg

Sweden’s second city has wrapped up its three-year 400th birthday party and is getting back to work as the country’s research and development engine. Gothenburg residents ranked #19 in our Educational Attainment subcategory, and their skills have long pulled in foreign direct investment to the point where, today, 20% of the workforce is employed by a foreign-owned company. Recently, the investment has come largely from Volvo Cars. While the company has manufactured cars here since 1927, it is today owned by China’s Geely, which is investing billions locally to turn Volvo into a fully electric car company by 2030. Geely is so ubiquitous that it’s driving the city’s high-profile hotel boom, having built the Clarion Hotel the Pier next to their Uni3 innovation centre. Another rising corporate force is pharmaceutical and biotech company AstraZeneca—which opened one of its three global R&D hubs here, further showcasing the local talent that ranks #6 in Europe for Labour Force Participation. Aside from the massive city building that took place for the city’s 400th anniversary celebrations—like the expansion of Jubileumsparken (Centenary Park) and renovated Gothenburg Maritime Museum and Aquarium—the city is anticipating a €100-billion property and infrastructure investment over the next decade.

45. Bristol

Much like Manchester, Bristol is going all in on creative industry and capital over the next few years, nowhere more so than with the planned 2026 opening of YTL Arena at Brabazon Hangars on the city’s former Filton Airfield. The 10.5-hectare facility’s middle hanger is so massive that it could swallow London’s O2 arena. A convention centre is planned for the east hangar, while the west will serve as a food hall, work spaces and leisure facilities. Carbon neutrality, of course, is a given in the U.K.’s first official Cycling City and the 2015 European Green Capital. Bristol’s #36 Culture ranking will also improve as the town that gave the world artists like Massive Attack, Portishead and Banksy reopens the Bristol Beacon music venue, following a five-year, £48-million transformation. The city is also leveraging its residents’ #18-ranked GDP per Capita in Europe to further own nuclear and renewables in the U.K., first with the opening of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station an hour south of the city, then with the country’s largest electric battery production facilities opening soon just outside of town. Bristol’s #40-ranked airport is a hive of activity as it builds to accommodate the inflow.

46. Valencia

All (continental) eyes will be on Spain’s third-largest city this year as it basks in its 2024 European Green Capital limelight. The honour is well-earned, as the city expands its 200 kilometres of bike paths (the city currently ranks #64 for Biking) and almost 500 hectares of carbon-absorbing urban gardens like Jardines del Real/Viveros. Its new Parque Central unveiled 10 hectares of green space and tree canopy on top of a reused rail yard in 2022. Outside of the centro, the city’s 15 kilometres of pristine European Blue Flag-status beaches are lapped by some of the cleanest water in the country. Given all the natural bounty, the city’s #12 ranking in our Outdoors subcategory will surprise no one. Amazingly, the city further proved its sustainability bona fides last year when it became the first in the world to verify its carbon emissions from tourist activity. Look it up—it’s a big deal. Valencia’s already impressive #15-ranked Sights & Landmarks are poised to climb even higher with the city’s new CaixaForum history museum being joined by the just-opened Hortensia Herrero Art Centre in the renovated Valeriola Palace, home of Spanish billionaire Hortensia Herrero’s private art collection with works by Andreas Gursky and Anish Kapoor.

47. Liverpool

Liverpool’s place as an integral urban centre in world history is difficult to comprehend without visiting it yourself. Fortunately, the city documents it all masterfully—and honestly: from its role in Britain’s trans-Atlantic slave trade at the International Slavery Museum to the heroic contribution to both world wars with countless Liverpudlians enlisting (plus its own strategic location) at the Western Approaches Museum, housed in a subterranean bunker. But it was in its post-war decline that Liverpool made history again when four local teenagers jammed together. Today, The Beatles Story is the world’s largest permanent exhibit devoted to the band. Almost as revered is Liverpool FC, the U.K.’s most storied club, and Anfield stadium, their home since 1892. Given these layers of history, the city’s #7 ranking for Sights & Landmarks isn’t surprising. Expect the city’s star to ascend as the new Waterfront Transformation Project reimagines the historic area as part of a 10-year master plan featuring a pyramidal pavilion for contemplation by architect Asif Khan and artist Theaster Gates. The nearby Baltic Triangle neighbourhood is a buzzy culinary destination where two-year-old restaurant Manifest is already Michelin Guide-approved. Hotel openings are also ramping up in 2024.

Leeds spent last year celebrating its Leeds 2023 year of culture with concerts, a literary festival and storytelling. The celebration builds on a legacy of cultural programming (ranked #38 and sure to improve), powered by a storied nightlife (#24) supported by six (six!) local universities and a proud ’90s past of bringing acid house dance music to the world. The ongoing Back to Basics weekly club night, launched in 1991, claims to be Europe’s longest-running, while new spots helping shape the city include the Viaduct Showbar, an LGBTQIA+ hot spot. The city also revels outdoors, and Roundhay Park, with its 285 hectares of lakes, forests, playgrounds and cafés (and the occasional Rolling Stones, Madonna or U2 show) is one of Europe’s largest urban green spaces. Given the reverence Leeds has for its tree cover, it’s no wonder it ranks in the Top 10 in our Green Space subcategory. The city’s skilled workforce and student population were also the catalyst for the region’s designation as England’s third Investment Zone a few months back, aiming to create more than 2,500 new jobs by the end of the decade and potentially unlocking £220 million in investment.

49. Southampton

Less than an hour’s train ride from London, Southampton is leveraging its rich heritage as a maritime gateway to optimise plentiful opportunity. Residents are well versed in the city’s attributes as a hometown that takes care of its own. With more than 50 city parks and urban forests (powering the city’s #8 spot in our Green Space subcategory) and within 30 minutes of the New Forest National Park, the outdoors are never far. And neither are spectacular beaches further afield, with the bucolic Isle of Wight a short ferry ride away. Long called the U.K.’s “gateway to the world,” the city is drawing investment with its port potential, with proposals ranging from the Maritime Gateway (to funnel visitors from Southampton Central Station to the waterfront) to the billions of pounds proposed to better link the island to increase tourism (which already thrives here, given the city’s cruise ship traffic). In light of this ambition, it’s easy to see how Southampton ranks #29 in our overall Prosperity index, including #9 for Disposable Household Income and #7 for Poverty Rate. Its two universities and economic resilience mean Southampton boasts Europe’s ninth-most educated residents.

The ancient capital is busy making up for lost time with ambitious city-building spanning new metro lines connecting soulful destination neighbourhoods like Exarcheia (whose central square is locally considered the heart of this great city) to reopening grand buildings as cultural hubs. Right in the city centre, the ancient Municipal Market of Kypseli today hosts community parties, concerts and workshops, and the old National Opera building is now the Olympia Municipal Musical Theatre Maria Callas. Returning visitors are equally busy catching up, strolling the refreshed Grand Promenade, a four-kilometre tree-lined and car-free walkway at the foot of the Acropolis that connects the city’s major archaeological sites (earning a #20 ranking for Sights & Landmarks). The Athens Olympic Museum in the northern Athenian suburb of Marousi is the nation’s newest, highlighting the history of the Olympic Games. Athens’ #18 ranking for Museums will improve soon enough. Another new (well, technically renovated) cultural destination is the National Gallery, reopened in 2021 after an eight-year reno that doubled its size and let in ample natural light to showcase the European art. Dozens of new hotels include the One&Only Aesthesis on a private oceanfront estate and the sensual feast that is the Brown Acropol.

A Roman city founded more than two millennia ago, Lyon is to be savoured nose to tail, past to future, literally and figuratively. If the city’s middling Attractions (#40) and Museums (#58) rankings rise with the plentiful planned investment, that’s just icing on the gâteau. Locals are buzzing about the new OL Vallée development with its massive gym and pool, five indoor football pitches, a 32-lane bowling alley, escape rooms and the City Surf Park. More new investment is pouring into La Confluence, a 150-hectare urban redevelopment that not only brings together Lyon’s two fabled rivers—the Rhône and the Saône—but also gives new life to a tract of prime but neglected industrial real estate. The jewel in the new development’s crown is the Musée des Confluences, an architectural enigma glittering at the very point where the rivers meet, with an outstretched park disappearing into the flows. You’ll also hear much more about Lyon’s biking infrastructure (which will improve on its #29 ranking). Already boasting 1,200 kilometres of bike lanes (a third of which are protected from cars), the new Lyon Routes will provide 250 kilometres of bike-only roads to connect the city’s suburbs to its heart.

52. Marseille

The designation as Europe’s Capital of Culture a decade ago had Marseille modernise its seedy port city reputation (for the most part). A swath of new waterfront buildings demonstrates the commitment across city leadership in France’s third-largest city. To that end, Marseille just announced its most ambitious investment plan since the 1940s, committing almost €2 billion across reconstruction, acquisition and modernisation of schools, public services and the housing crisis. Until then, don’t miss the fruits of earlier investment in Vieux Port, designed by Norman Foster, who turned a site that’s been here for 26 centuries into a mesmerising pedestrian-only zone with a vibrant sense of place. The showstopper is at Quai des Belges, where a dramatic blade of reflective stainless steel creates a dreamy canopy and shade. Nearby is the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations with its fishnet-inspired design, linked by a pedestrian bridge to the 17th-century Fort Saint-Jean. Another new ode to the old is the just-opened Cosquer Méditerranée, housing a full-scale replica of the nearby Grotte Cosquer cave, decorated with prehistoric artwork before it flooded. The city’s commitment will only grow the #16 ranking for Global Fortune 500 companies in town and the #21-ranked creative class they employ.

Bilbao, in the heart of Basque Country in northern Spain, last year celebrated 25 years since the 1997 opening of the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Frank Gehry-designed, titanium-clad museum that made the city, and its architect, global icons. Proudly one of Europe’s smaller urban centres, Bilbao revels under the cover of its own relative obscurity and isolation, creating its own magnetism. Sure, the Guggenheim’s destination architecture still draws hundreds of thousands annually, but as one of Europe’s most welcoming cities (ranked #13 in our Green Space and #23 in our Monthly Rent subcategories), Bilbao is building an accessible, resilient hometown that’s not afraid to take risks. Consider the daring new waves of architecture, like Santiago Calatrava’s Zubizuri Bridge and Bilbao Airport, and Zaha Hadid’s redevelopment of the old port area. Design-forward Bilbao is also emerging as a stealthy, affordable business headquarters, with the 11th-most Global Fortune 500 companies in town, including multinational utility company Iberdrola and financial giant BBVA. The world is watching this urban dynamo, especially as it hosted the launch of the Tour de France cycling race this past summer in balmy splendour while the rest of Southern Europe sweltered.

54. Tallinn

With its medieval spires and conical, red-tiled roofs sprouting from the city’s verdant tree canopy, Tallinn’s Old Town is enjoying three decades as a UNESCO World Heritage site. An impressive #22 ranking for its diverse museums is earned by Kumu Art Museum, which houses three centuries of Estonian art. It’s a vital look into the region’s geopolitically fraught history, seen in pieces illustrating a pastoral Baltic homeland, Imperial Czarist fleets, Soviet propaganda, protest posters and, finally, independent Estonian voices. The PoCo Art Museum is the city’s newest, packed with contemporary art from Andy Warhol to Banksy. But this town works hard too, so experience the future of this entrepreneurial city by strolling 30 minutes north to the newly redeveloped old shipyard of Port Noblessner to see what the local ministry of entrepreneurship and IT claims is the highest density of startups in the world, even calling it “Europe’s Silicon Valley.” (The city ranks #13 in our Startups subcategory.) The district is also home to Estonia’s first Michelin two-star restaurant, 180° by Matthias Diether. The city is riding its 2023 European Green Capital title, too, with its carbon-neutral public transport and investment in Europe’s #22-ranked bike infrastructure.

55. Dresden

Known as “Florence on the Elbe” (after the river that flows through it) until February 13, 1945, this Baroque masterpiece (and its robust manufacturing infrastructure) was bombed by 800 British planes dropping 2,700 tonnes of explosives over two days, reducing the city to rubble and killing more than 25,000, including refugees and Allied prisoners of war. Today, Dresden is reaping the work of its meticulous rebuild in the decades following the war, with its historic centre finally opening this year after extensive restoration. The inspiring natural beauty of the city (validated by its #17 ranking for Green Space) is also being celebrated with tributes to Romantic painter and renowned Dresden resident Caspar David Friedrich, born 250 years ago, with several of the city’s #50-ranked museums holding exhibitions. That ranking will rise with the upcoming opening of the Archiv der Avantgarden–Egidio Marzona, where more than a million pieces of 20th-century art will be housed. Economic development is also big news in 2024, with the recent announcement that U.S.-based semiconductor contract manufacturer GlobalFoundries plans to invest at least €1 billion in a new production facility in the city.

56. Vilnius

Lithuania’s tiny capital (it has just over 700,000 people) is focusing on its small but mighty attributes. Take its 2022 city branding campaign, titled “Nobody Knows Where Vilnius Is,” It was irreverent, self-effacing and endearingly on-brand for a city still considered a secret European capital, with its UNESCO-protected walkable centre replete with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance layers that are never too crowded. The city definitely got noticed for its 700th anniversary last year, with an all-year party featuring summer music festivals, citizen-led placemaking projects, an art biennial and more. This year is all about the city’s ninth-highest GDP per Capita and Top 20 Startup rankings: the €100-billion Tech Zity campus will span 55,000 square metres and house 5,000 digital workers, eclipsing Paris’s Station F, today Europe’s largest startup campus. Housed in the New Town district in new and renovated warehouses, the area will feature housing, restaurants, bars and classrooms, further boosting the local tech industry that launched global unicorns like cybersecurity firm Nord and used clothing retailer Vinted. In 2025, the hits will keep coming when Vilnius becomes the European Commission’s European Green Capital. Now, if residents could only stop looking over their shoulder at Russian aggression in the region.

Few cities are as beloved as Venice, reflected in its Top 20 ranking in our overall Lovability index, where it ranks #13 among European cities for Facebook Check-ins and #16 for Tripadvisor Reviews. The city coaxes stories from visitors eager to experience the #14-ranked sights woven into the city’s fabric, along with the global ideas that started here, from banking (by the city’s Jewish merchants at their benches, or banci ) to quarantines (the 40-day isolation required by incoming ships during plagues). But a central city that’s just 7.6 square kilometres hosted almost 13 million tourists in 2019 and is expected to exceed that in coming years. As such, on the heels of banning cruise ships and megaphones wielded by belligerent guides, Venice now requires day-trippers to register before visiting, with those 15 and older paying €5 per day via an online platform on most spring and summer weekends. Those staying in the city are exempt. Investment in La Serenissima continues to pour in, namely with the Nolinski Venezia, Venice’s newest luxury hotel whose common spaces—from its 4,000-book Library Bar to its rooftop jacuzzi—almost rival the beguiling nooks of the city outside its gilded doors.

Bonn may have a relatively small population today, but its importance to Europe and the world can’t be understated (if only because Ludwig van Beethoven was born here in 1770 and his three-storey stucco house draws tens of thousands annually). The capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990, it was among the world’s most important decision centres. It was also the seat of government of the reunited Germany from 1990 to 1999. Two millennia prior, it was deemed a strategic imperial outpost by the expanding Roman army and was constructed as such, in effect becoming one of Germany’s oldest cities. Today, the German federal government maintains a substantial presence here and a third of national ministerial jobs are still located in the city, as well as 20 United Nations institutions, the most in the country. Old capitals don’t relinquish their advantage easily and, besides being a government town, Bonn remains the headquarters for publicly listed Deutsche Telekom and Deutsche Post, giving the city a #11 ranking in our Global Fortune 500 subcategory. The local talent pipeline is served well by the University of Bonn and new arrivals (the city ranks #23 for Foreign-Born Residents).

59. The Hague

The third-largest city in the Netherlands feels a world apart from the country’s capital, considering its global purpose. Home of the Dutch royal family, the Peace Palace and the International Criminal Court, where the UN International Court of Justice rules on international law, The Hague keeps an impeccable order. Its #9 ranking in Labour Force Participation is powered by the fact that 26% of local jobs are provided by the Dutch government or international institutions. It’s also a private-sector dynamo, ranking #16 for Global Fortune 500 companies like Royal Dutch Shell, Aegon, NIBC Bank and regional offices ranging from Saudi Aramco to T-Mobile. It’s packed with 13th-century architecture, like the Binnenhof complex, where you’ll find the Dutch government offices right in the heart of the city. Its large fountain and pond is an urban haven for ducks and swans that add to the overall storybook vibe. The city ranks #42 for its outdoor spaces, with spots like Westduinpark featuring dense forests and high dunes that drop into a stunning sandy beach. Art museums are everywhere, as are attractions for all ages (ranked #53), ranging from the Madurodam Miniature Town to the Children’s Book Museum in The Hague Library and the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

60. Hanover

The industrious city on the banks of the Leine River is home to a diverse ecosystem of companies (and given the local business community’s obsession with collaboration and coordination, it feels particularly symbiotic). Companies here range from Sennheiser to Volkswagen (which just started building the hot new ID.Buzz electrified van in town) to financial services provider Swiss Life. The economic firepower has Hanover finishing an impressive #11 in our Global Fortune 500 subcategory and #22 for GDP per Capita. All that business in town is pulling in 500 conferences per year (pandemic aside), with most taking place in the Hannover Messe fairground convention centre. The city’s 50,000 students have plenty of options after graduation and many stay for the #38-ranked disposable household income. But Hanover has also long invested in its livability, claiming that 50% of the city is dedicated to green spaces (for which it ranks #22). Its impressive #27 ranking in our Biking subcategory validates the city’s commitment to living sustainably, along with its recent launch of “no car days” efforts. The arts also matter here, as a recent UNESCO City of Music honour—and seemingly daily theatre, opera and arts programming—would indicate.

Germany’s westernmost city is closer to Brussels and Amsterdam than to Berlin, and it occupies a key role in European history, first as a Roman thermal bath complex, then as the medieval imperial residence of Emperor Charlemagne, long credited as a unifier of Europe. (The city’s International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is the oldest and best-known prize awarded for work done in the service of European unification, most recently given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.) The city also crowned dozens of Holy Roman Emperors as kings of the Germans until the 1500s. The walkable historic centre is a joy to explore (the city ranks #19 in our Biking subcategory), especially its spectacular Aachener Dom, constructed more than 1,200 years ago and one of the first 12 buildings to appear on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Today, it’s the site of epic Christmas markets. Schools like the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, the largest and most prestigious technical university in Germany, help the city rank #27 for the disposable income citizens bring home, while the city’s #19 ranking in our Monthly Rent subcategory means they have more of it to spend.

62. Utrecht

Utrecht is a distinct hometown and destination all its own, despite being only a 25-minute train ride from Amsterdam. Home to an astounding 29 universities and colleges attended by 70,000 students from 125 countries—of which the biggest is Utrecht University, founded in 1636 and nurturing Europe’s sixth-most educated citizenry today. Education and research makes up most of the local economy, and with global talent pouring in to study here, Utrecht trails only Stockholm in our Labour Force Participation subcategory. It also ranks #10 for Creative Class. The city’s medieval urban grid bursts with Dutch history that can only be possible in a place that for centuries was the cultural and religious heart of the nation. Given its magnetism—combined with that easy access to coveted Amsterdam—the city’s leaders are in the midst of the largest new development in the Netherlands, with 30,000 houses and office and industrial space being built in nearby Leidsche Rijn. The full buildout, including a new hospital, schools, retail, places of worship and public transit to the city centre, may be ready for 2025 if everything goes right. Sustainability is the directive, and an underground roadway is the engineering point of pride for project builders.

63. Nuremberg

Few cities embody their country like Nuremberg does Germany. The northern Bavarian city is sprinkled with medieval architecture, ancient fortifications and stone towers—most notably in its Altstadt (Old Town). Amid the red-tiled buildings rises Kaiserburg Castle. A short stroll away is Frauenkirche, a Gothic cathedral dating back to the 14th century. More currently, Nuremberg is known for its rich beers, energetic nightlife and enticing gingerbread bakeries. It also gained infamy during the Second World War as the site of the first Nazi rallies and atrocities… and, ultimately, the Nuremberg trials that brought to justice those who set the stage for them. Adding to its complex tapestry is a business climate that ranks among the strongest in Europe. The city and its environs are home to iconic German companies like Adidas, Puma, Diehl, Faber-Castell and Playmobil. The firepower drives the city to a #24 ranking for Labour Force Participation, and a resulting #11 for Disposable Household Income. Given all the enterprise nearby, the fact that Nuremberg sits at #41 in all of Europe in our overall Prosperity Index shouldn’t come as a surprise.

64. Rotterdam

The urban post-war rebuild wasn’t exactly equal in the Netherlands. Take Rotterdam: rebuilt from ruins to provide Europe with its largest port. Today, it still does. Fittingly, the city was also saddled with the continent’s largest red-light district. Today, you can start there, in the once-dingy Katendrecht neighbourhood, to witness Rotterdam’s current ascent. It’s now the city’s culinary heart, with its Deliplein Square, an outdoor dining room ringed by restaurants and a waterfront warehouse packed with stalls, breweries and workshops. Rotterdam is also Europe’s design and architecture lab. Places like nearby Wilhelminakade, the steamship embarkation point for U.S.-bound Dutch émigrés, is today home to towers designed by Álvaro Siza, Norman Foster and local starchitect Rem Koolhaas. There’s even an all-timber floating office building moored nearby, along with Hofbogenpark, Rotterdam’s own High Line. On the other side of town, in the M4H district, a new floating farm blends urban food security with community amenities. What rising sea levels? Sustainable architecture elsewhere includes the air-filtering Smog Free Tower and the Windwheel (you’ll have to see it to believe it, in 2025). With that kind of office space, no wonder the city’s workers rank in the Top 10 for Labour Force Participation.

Portugal’s kinetic second city is first on the minds of voracious global real estate investors and site selectors either priced out of Lisbon or tired of its crowds. That’s not to say that Porto isn’t equally coveted, with its colourful old town hugging the banks of the Douro and crowned by Gustave Eiffel’s wrought-iron bridge just unfinished enough to remind you that this was the industrial heart of the nation for centuries. New direct flights from all over Europe are pouring in and tourists often outnumber locals in central Baixa. Current visitor numbers, like real estate prices, have already pushed past 2019 levels, especially among the U.S. buyers and visitors who have been emboldened by the value of a strong dollar against the euro. They come for the #13-ranked parks in Europe (including beaches reachable by subway), and new ways to experience the city, from the reopened Mercado do Bolhão, Porto’s historic central market, to a new fourth metro line to the massive World of Wine development on the Gaia side of the river, which houses seven museums and 10 restaurants. Economic development office InvestPorto, meanwhile, is accelerating the city’s green transition with expansive investor support and direct connection to the city’s talent pool.

A walkable medieval old town resembling an epic gingerbread village (especially in winter), with a UNESCO World Heritage designation and the largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe? All the while home to half of its country’s residents? Welcome to Riga, where the centuries of galleries, concert halls and arts venues help the Latvian capital rank in the Top 20 in our Attractions subcategory. That this cultural bounty costs half of what it does in most continental capitals only adds to the allure. Fortunately, the affordability extends to the emergent Baltic cuisine, ranging from Ukrainian comfort food at the newly reopened Āgenskalns market on the Daugava River’s left bank to the €10 Baltic seafood tartare, ceviches and carpaccios at new restaurant Tails. While casual travellers are still sleeping on Riga’s special blend, investors like Abu Dhabi-based Eagle Hills are planning to pour €3 billion into the city’s Andrejsala neighbourhood and its Riga Free Port by 2040. Given the city’s #24 ranking for GDP per Capita, the talent justifies the investment. As do the growing high-speed rail links like the just-opened four-hour daily to Vilnius, and the larger Rail Baltica network by 2030.

67. Freiburg

Freiburg’s proximity to France certainly gives the outdoor gateway its distinct joie de vivre. Or perhaps it’s the region’s 2,000 hours of annual sunshine, making it Germany’s warmest city and the home of some of the country’s best viticulture. Given its youthful exuberance and climate, residents access the storybook urban grid and nearby hiking by Europe’s 18th-best biking infrastructure. Schlossberg serves up city views (and the 116-metre spire of the city’s Gothic cathedral and central square Münsterplatz) for those who hike up the hill. A funicular also accommodates the less intrepid. The University of Freiburg, founded in 1457, is omnipresent in the city’s rich cultural scene, from local talks and conferences to a small but mighty nightlife and music scene. Freiburg works hard, too, ranking #27 for Labour Force Participation with a multicultural population that ranks #20 in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory and its citizenry enjoying the 14th-highest disposable income on the continent. The city may be small, but its rail connections are growing, most recently with a weekly direct route to fellow wine region Bordeaux to build on the French interest in nearby Europa-Park, the Freiburg region’s ever-expanding theme park that’s now coaxing visitors with a roller-coaster named “Voltron.”

68. Toulouse

The heart of France’s aeronautics and space industry is a rare hometown that’s both a globally recognised innovator and a 2,000-year-old urban treasure trove committed to its citizens—current and future. The Airbus Group, Airbus Defence & Space, Thales Alenia Space and dozens of other aeronautics firms alone employ almost 100,000. The sectors have long attracted complementary investment, and today Toulouse is among the European leaders in intelligent transport, from autonomous vehicles (both driving and flying) to feasible hyperloop implementation. France’s longest cable car just opened here, spanning the tree-lined Garonne River. But the Pink City (named for the distinct rose hue of its many buildings) is also an emerging cultural hotbed, with a torrent of recent and upcoming investments—like its conversion of the Saint-Michel prison into an auditorium for the Orchestre National Capitole in its efforts to become France’s City of Dance. Locals are buzzing about Les Halles de la Cartoucherie, a 13,500-square-metre former munitions factory that opened a few months ago with a food hall, co-working space and sports and cultural centre. With high-speed rail bringing Paris within three hours by 2030, expect a lot more buzz about France’s fourth-largest metro.

69. Leipzig

Calling Leipzig a “secondary” German city is an understatement. There may be fewer than a million people living here, but this industrial centre so heavily damaged by Allied bombing at the end of the Second World War has emerged as an exciting urban renewal story in a country full of them. Yes, there are the typical German economic attributes: an enviable convention centre; booming regional offices for Porsche, BMW, Amazon and others; a cargo airport that’s one of DHL’s global hubs; and impressive resident disposable household income (#38). But there are also growing global bona fides about the city’s arts and culture. The New York Times even called it “Germany’s new cultural hot spot” and “better than the capital” a few years back. A lot of the buzz is around Spinnerei, a 19th-century cotton mill adapted into a community hive, housing 13 galleries and hundreds of artists’ studios. The centre also features indie cinema, a restaurant and a beer garden. The cultural lineage of Leipzig is well earned: Wagner was born here, while Mahler and Bach all lived and worked in the city. Also naturally endowed, Leipzig ranks #18 in Europe for Green Space and #20 in our Biking subcategory.

Most know Malmö by the Øresund Bridge that leads away from it, immortalised in the TV drama “The Bridge”. Ironically, that same link causes Malmö’s relative obscurity—the city is located a 25-minute drive from international darling Copenhagen and usually cedes global attention to Stockholm. (Although the connection has been a boon for accessing the nearby Danish market.) Despite its #110 spot in our overall Lovability index, Malmö is riding the demand for smaller but connected and ambitious hometowns. Especially ones with the historic and plentiful warehouse and industrial real estate boasted by this once-thriving shipping industry hub that crumbled with the oil crisis 50 years ago. That includes places like the Kockums or the Västra Hamnen shipyards, today home to hundreds of companies employing thousands on an industrial waterfront that just oozes authenticity. The 2000 opening of Malmö University in the central business district yields a #18 ranking for Educational Attainment and #17 spot for Labour-Force Participation. Playtime is never far away, courtesy of the dozens of parks cherished by locals—like downtown’s massive King’s Park, and Ribersborg, a coastal stroll with swimmable beaches and even a bathhouse en route. In May, however, most residents will be indoors, watching Malmö host the Eurovision Song Contest.

71. Sheffield

Looking at Sheffield today, it’s difficult to understand why George Orwell called it the “ugliest town in the world.” Mind you, that was in 1936, back when “in whichever direction you look you see the same landscape of monstrous chimneys pouring forth smoke.” More than 80 years later (in 2021), the U.K.’s fifth-largest city was named the greenest in the country by a University of Southampton study. An incredible 61% of the city is designated as green space and more than a third is within the boundary of the Peak District National Park. The city’s #22 ranking in our Green Space subcategory abides. Amidst all those trees (the most per capita in Europe, according to proud local boosters), 80 stands are classed as ancient woodlands. Sheffield’s Top 50 ranking in our Parks & Recreation subcategory will definitely improve as word of its commitment grows. Local government has also been expanding walking and biking routes in an effort to limit car use, an investment in the more than 60,000 students who call the city home (half of whom attend the University of Sheffield—and its #33-ranked Nightlife locales).

72. Nottingham

As recently as 15 years ago, this central England city battled crime, talent flight and typically English savage branding as home to “men in tights and men in fights.” Even its hilltop Nottingham Castle wasted away among parking lots and cut-rate motels. Today, thanks to visionary local leadership, the castle, fresh from a three-year, £30-million renovation (helped by the government’s Culture Recovery Fund) would make Kevin Costner proud. The local grounds now host medieval reenactments, and adventure parks with rope bridges and slides are once again pulling in families from all over the country. The same can be said about the city. It’s home to the Nottingham Conference Centre, one of the busiest in Europe, hosting hundreds of corporate and commercial events annually. The Global Fortune 500 companies and their subsidiaries in town include Boots pharmacy and See Tickets, helping the city rank #29. The 51-kilometre tram line just adds to the rediscovered walkability and newly redesigned public spaces—from the massive, all-season market square to Hockley, a district of reclaimed lace mills and warehouses that today buzzes with restaurants, bars, offices and gallery spaces. Rest assured that some of the city’s wild side still lives on in its #32-ranked nightlife.

73. Antwerp

Antwerp has conducted business on the River Scheldt since the Middle Ages, and has the centuries-old Diamond District (and the title of Europe’s second-largest port) to prove it. No wonder the city today ranks #23 in both our Shopping and Disposable Household Income subcategories. Its cultural wealth is also shared freely, with dozens of museums of all sizes (the MoMu fashion museum is the newest). The big news is the recently renovated Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, with its 11-year, €100-million expansion adding 6,500 square metres. But the city truly shines through its quaint cobblestone townhouse lanes, secret courtyards and alleys that all lead to the soaring Gothic beauty of the Cathedral of Our Lady. The newest placemaking gem opening soon is the seven-hectare Zuidpark and its 30,000 plants. But not all is rosy for this gilded city, currently in the grips of a violent war between drug cartels trying to control its port. In January customs officials said they seized 116 tonnes of cocaine here in 2023, a record for the second year in a row, and three times the amount seized in the entirety of the U.S. during the same year.

74. Bucharest

More than three decades after it left the Iron Curtain, Romania’s capital is finally getting the attention it’s sought since the ’90s. Culturally endowed, historically vital and gastronomically mind-blowing: no wonder the city was just named tops in Europe for digital nomads based on a study by Panache Cruises, driven by its tech infrastructure and affordability. (Apparently, one can live like a count for less than €1,400 per month, all in. Meanwhile, the city ranks #20 in our Monthly Rent subcategory.) The #16 Attractions ranking demonstrates that the Old World beckons here, despite Soviet-backed dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu’s zealous bulldozing of centuries-old architecture. Must-sees include the Arcul de Triumf, and, of course, the ornate beer halls that rival those of Vienna. Foreign investment is picking up, inspired by locally born software and robotics company UiPath, which went public with a $1.3-billion software IPO on the NYSE in 2021, one of the largest in U.S. history. Local culinary talent is also returning, following chefs like Alex Petricean (formerly of Copenhagen’s Noma) and London’s Radu Ionescu. No wonder that work ethic among the citizenry ranks Bucharest at #7 for GDP per Capita and #28 for Startups. A new luxury Mondrian hotel is also coming to town.

Ankara may date back to 5000 BCE, but it only celebrated a century as Türkiye’s capital last year. The Central Anatolia metropolis has more Roman archeology and Ottoman architecture than most European capitals, yet its relative obscurity and the odd travel advisory make parts of the city a time capsule, like the central warren of narrow alleys, fragrant with spices and fresh produce and electrified by commerce and haggling, whether for a traditional rug or wireless headphones. The city has traditionally been affordable as a result (ranking #3 in our Monthly Rent subcategory), but led the planet in the third quarter of 2023 year-over-year price appreciation, according to property consultants Knight Frank. Driven largely by inflation, home prices more than doubled. Local cultural and hospitality buzz matches the ascendant real estate, with new exhibits at Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (claimed by many to be Türkiye’s most important museum in a nation full of them), the spectacular new glass pyramid housing the national orchestra called CSO Main Hall and a dozen new hotels. High-speed rail plans are everywhere, to the coastal metropolis of İzmir by 2027 (when the current 14-hour trip will be cut to 3.5), as well as an Istanbul connection after that.

76. Seville

Spain’s fourth-largest city is as complex and multilayered as the most ornate fan wielded by local flamenco dancers. The Andalusian capital revels in its warm, sunny climate and #26-ranked parks, and is proudly walkable, narrow and winding, perfect for exploring by foot or bike. Moorish and Baroque architecture radiates in panoramas out from its spectacular cathedral and the Giralda bell tower. Not content with masterpieces of the past, city builders are always looking to visually delight locals and visitors, resulting  in a #24 ranking for Sights & Landmarks. Take the 10-year-old Metropol Parasol that rises over the medieval Plaza de la Encarnación. Six massive sculpted sunshades ascend 28 metres up and shade those below from the relentless Andalusian sun. Speaking of heat, the new proMETEO project made Seville the world’s first city to name heatwaves in the same way we do hurricanes in a bid to raise public awareness of their impact on health and to encourage people to protect themselves. The nights are just as hot, evidenced by Seville’s #23 ranking in our Nightlife subcategory and #15 place for Culture. Its Top 20 spot for Google Trends means new hotels are opening fast, including the anticipated Thompson Seville in 2026.

77. Bournemouth

This coastal resort town is a pocket-sized shot of California two hours by train from London. A rare microclimate means more sunshine, warmer weather and (for the surfers and swimmers who play on its eponymous beach, often lauded as one of Europe’s best) warmer seas. The area’s golden beaches, it should be noted, are Blue Flag-certified. With its seafront promenade, Ferris wheel and piers, the city has embraced its unique beach-town vibe for decades, readily drawing families with one-of-a-kind, Instagrammable attractions—like the only pier-to-shore zipline on the planet. Aside from its robust hospitality industry, Bournemouth is also a financial industry hub, recently boosted by newly arrived tech firms and remote workers who prefer a morning surf to a tube commute. The result is a Top 25 finish in our Disposable Household Income subcategory and a #15 ranking for Poverty Rate. Two local universities favoured by international students help the town rank #22 for Educational Attainment. This year brings big changes to the city’s skyline with the 29-storey Oxford Garden rental tower (and its 487 homes) starting construction, along with The Laureate, a three-tower residential landmark block housing 247 apartments, also in the city’s Lansdowne area.

78. Bordeaux

Two hours southwest of Paris by train, Bordeaux was always a tempting weekend escape for Parisians and international tourists pining for fresher air, local cuisine and the largest concentration of wineries in a nation synonymous with viniculture. Wide golden beaches (with surfing!) are an hour’s drive away. But as the pandemic suffocated big-city density, younger urbanites sought out more room and cheaper housing permanently. Many landed at this UNESCO World Heritage city with a tenth of the capital’s population despite many similarities, from the gastronomy (the city ranks #44 in our Restaurants subcategory) to the stunning 18th- and 19th-century architecture, kinetic nightlife and Seine-like promenade. All those new arrivals spent the past few years exploring the historic streets, home to some of Europe’s #47-ranked biking infrastructure, and staking their claims. The result is an economic and cultural renaissance, with hundreds of new businesses and new hotels like the recently opened Hôtel FirstName, a fun conversion of a tired 1970s building, and the luxurious five-room Château Fleur d’Aya in an 18th-century stunner. The city’s impressive #18 ranking for Attractions got another boost two years ago with the opening of the Bassins des Lumières, a colossal digital art space housed in the city’s former submarine base.

79. Wrocław

Founded in the 10th century, Wrocław is the fourth-largest city in Poland and among its most beautiful. A turbulent history has forged a city stacked with diverse, colourful pan-European architecture and an open door to new residents, especially if they want to hang a shingle and get down to business. The city has always been an economic pocket power, boasting one of Europe’s largest market squares and easy access to the Odra River and its tributaries (spanned by 100-plus bridges), earning it the nickname “The Venice of Poland.” It’s also the third-largest academic centre in the country, with more than 130,000 students at 28 institutes, including the University of Wrocław with its medicine, economics, science, tech and music schools. Wrocław’s impressive #9 ranking in our Poverty Rate subcategory prioritises equity, especially as wealth grows from foreign investment, whether from the dozens of multinationals that have set up shop here—from IBM to the Volvo Group—or the digital nomads and solopreneurs who attend innovation events like the city’s Wolves Summit every year. A strategic location also supports a warehouse and logistics boom, led by Panattoni Development’s recent purchase of 35 hectares to build 160,000 square metres of space called the Wrocław Campus.

It’s a tale as old as privileged 21st-century mobility: locals flee the cramped quarters of a historic city for more convenient outskirts only to have the abandoned patina and authenticity gobbled up by global culture vultures able to work from anywhere (if needing to work at all). Palma, capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca (aka Majorca), enchants visitors to its centre with a stunning tangle of sandstone architecture packed right around the colossal Santa María cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece from the 1200s. After two decades of global fascination (and real estate investment) by the cognoscenti, the Balearic capital is no longer associated with cheap all-inclusive beach holidays, and is increasingly lauded as a smaller, mellower Barcelona. No wonder the city ranks in the Top 10 in Europe for Foreign-Born Residents. It also ranks #22 in our Outdoors category and entices international palates with its #32-ranked restaurants. Hotel investment is on a tear since travel resumed post-pandemic, with 30 hotels in the historic centre alone (and more on the way). The city’s seafront promenade is getting upgraded, and the Club de Mar marina is being reimagined as one of the most modern in the Mediterranean, with the largest wharf in Spain.

Poland’s fifth-largest city is a business and scientific hub favoured by the country’s university students and, therefore, long targeted by multinationals like Roche, Amazon and Unilever. The city is also a hub for international events, conferences, fairs and exhibitions, and has invested heavily in its Poznań Congress Center, capable of hosting conferences and events for up to 20,000 people. Given its pursuit of investment, both permanent and temporary, Poznań consistently enjoys some of Europe’s lowest unemployment. A growing global influence, seen in direct flights to Dubai three times a week, will ensure the plentiful local talent remains busy. A few minutes from the high-rises and dealmakers is the city’s historical centre with its quilt of town squares and city parks. Later this year (or maybe early next), the city is aiming to reopen the Old Market Square, first built in 1241. When it does, Poland’s third-largest town square (the Poles love their town squares) will be a more accessible heart, enhanced with the revival of Jana Baptysty Quadro as a cultural passageway with a retractable roof, public spaces and a mobile stage. It’s inevitable that Poznań will be inviting even more people (and direct flights) to town.

Resilience, thy name is Gdańsk. The Baltic history is visible in its architecture, more reminiscent of Amsterdam or Stockholm than Kraków. But it’s also in the DNA of residents, bent but not broken by over a century of seismic change. The earliest shots of the Second World War were fired here by the Nazi battleship Schleswig-Holstein. And, 40 years later, Gdańsk became the birthplace of the Solidarność (Solidarity) movement that expedited the fall of the Iron Curtain after years of subverting the Soviets. Today, the city revels in doing right by those who fought for its freedom by drawing industries like finance, engineering and manufacturing. Gdańsk is also a nascent creative dynamo, with old shipbuilding warehouses reclaimed as music venues, studios and pop-up bars. Outside of town, dozens of huge Communist-era apartment blocks are livened up by 60 murals, including images of Chopin and Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa. The city’s #23 ranking for Biking will get a boost next year when Gdańsk brings the Velo-city world cycling summit to Poland for the first time. The city is also grateful for its buoyancy, reflected in the EU’s 2023 Quality of Life in European Cities report, where Gdańsk topped many categories.

Europe’s newest golf destination is also its most affordable (ranking #1 in our Monthly Rent subcategory), drawing an increasing number of expats and digital nomads seeking its 300 sunny days on a budget. Murcia boasts sub-€500 studios and, according to property portal Kyero.com, €259,000 properties on average, with almost 30% sold to foreign buyers last year (explaining the region’s #34 ranking in our Foreign-Born Residents subcategory). But this hidden gem, sprawling up from the southeast Mediterranean coast into the warm hills and valleys whose fertile soils have long made it the vegetable garden of Europe, is not some tacky fly-in resort town. Its ancient urban heart is a strollable museum featuring the sensory feast that is the Moorish masterpiece of Real Casino and the massive Santa María Cathedral. New restaurants, obsessed with the locavorism afforded by produce grown a bike ride away, are popping up, showcasing flavours that are complemented by the area’s intense Jumilla reds. The Mar Menor lagoon in the seaside community of the same name was even granted personhood status a couple of years back, codifying its rights to “exist as an ecosystem and to evolve naturally.” A new high-speed train from Madrid makes the trip in 2.5 hours.

84. Belfast

Belfast is making up for lost time, intent on leveraging the architectural bounty sprinkled throughout its Georgian streetscapes to draw investment and new talent searching for an affordable, connected and supportive hometown willing to do the work. And Belfast has always gotten it done, all the way back to when it was the shipbuilding capital of the world, at the turn of the last century, drawing makers and craftspeople who crowned the city “Linenopolis” as it crafted linen for Europe. The Titanic was built here, and today the Titanic Quarter is one of Europe’s largest urban waterfront regeneration projects, with 20,000 people already living, working and visiting daily. Many more are visiting now that the Titanic Belfast museum has expanded. Nowhere else on the planet will sate your obsession (whether historical or Hollywood) like here. Dockside converted warehouses hum with Deloitte and PwC, along with homegrown firms like FinTrU and Options Technology, each eager to tap into Belfast’s extensive 20-something talent in a global skills crisis, while local leaders build affordable housing to keep them here. As does the music and stealth cultural bounty, which will be on full display all year as the city celebrates its Year of Culture in 2024.

It has centuries-old storybook streets and a buzzing student population (mostly from Aarhus University, the largest in Scandinavia), but Aarhus hits different among second cities. Maybe it’s the afterglow of a blistering decade and its 2017 European Capital of Culture honours and commitment to considered urbanism already underway. Or perhaps it goes back further, to 1941, when Aarhus City Hall unveiled its iconic modernist clock tower as a beacon to democracy while under Nazi occupation. The 2004 expansion of the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, today one of the largest in northern Europe, was followed by similarly daring architecture in the city’s underused industrial Isbjerget quarter. A decade after its first residential project—modelled on a cluster of floating icebergs—caught the design world’s attention, it still draws design lovers, indicative of the city’s #25 Instagram Hashtags ranking. This year, you’ll see people posting the newly restored, 112-year-old Ole Rømer Observatory. Aarhus is also a walkable feast (especially in the old city), featuring four Michelin-starred restaurants that also boast the guide’s green stars for sustainability. (Try the local lobster at Substans.) Sated locals rank #29 for Labour Force Participation, and the city’s focus on equity means it ties for fourth in Europe in our Poverty Rate subcategory.

The historic capital of Brittany (France’s sixth-largest city today)—and one of Europe’s leading ports in the 1700s—was an industrial engine until shipbuilding, hit hard by the 1970s oil crisis, ground to a halt. The manufacturing and shipping centre—Île de Nantes in the middle of the Loire River—was left a derelict wasteland in the heart of a proud but wounded city. All that changed in 2007 when centuries of warehouse and factory stock was repurposed as the city’s cultural hub. Spots like Les Machines de l’Île, a collection of interactive art exhibits featuring giant walking machines inspired by local son Jules Verne’s novels and plays, delight new visitors. The city was also designated as a European Green Capital in 2013, further helping habitat rehabilitation, food security and sustainable transportation (Nantes ranks #30 for Biking). Of course a city this historically and nationally vital has cultural bounty to spare, none more impressive than the Musée d’Arts, established by Napoleon in 1801 and fully renovated a few years ago. Its collection of the masters rivals anything in Paris. (Except without the capital’s crowds.) A growing food scene is driving tourism locally, and Ryanair is adding new flights from the U.K. in 2024.

Green, clean and historic, Graz was, given its urban perfection, a fitting recipient of both the European Capital of Culture title for 2003 and the UNESCO City of Design in 2011. Mid-rise, red-roofed white city blocks snake out from the medieval tangle of Baroque and Renaissance buildings rising and falling with the verdant undulations of the topography. Trees and forests share the urban grid, rising up to Graz’s Schlossberg, once the site of a strategic medieval fortress, and sliced by the Mur River below. The walkable city is dissected by Europe’s best biking infrastructure (according to our rankings). The rare blend of aesthetics, relative isolation and warm, sunny microclimate (Graz is one of Austria’s winemaking clusters) has long pulled in mavericks. The city boasts eight universities and much of the population is made up of current and former students who revel in its impressive #14 Livability ranking. Many settle here, launching more than 1,400 companies annually according to local boosters, contributing to the city’s #18 Disposable Household Income ranking. In 2021, the city also elected Elke Kahr of the Communist Party of Austria as mayor, who seems to be a rising tourist attraction all her own if international media is a metric.

Italy’s fourth-largest city and capital of Piedmont is a sensory feast for those who know. Perhaps it’s because Milan, just a 45-minute train ride away, sates most tourist itineraries. Torino couldn’t care less, confident in a homegrown wealth and elegance that serves up a Top 20 ranking for its restaurants, many stocked by Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market with its 800 stalls. That the city was the first capital of a unified Italy from 1861 to 1865 further validates its profound importance to the nation. Turin is also a stunner, with Baroque architecture meticulously rebuilt after heavy Allied bombing during the Second World War—the streetscapes are reminiscent of the grandest in Paris, but with the Italian Alps as a backdrop. An incredible 163 piazze make exploring the city by foot a portal into its cultural textures, especially the #26-ranked museums that document the dynamism of a city like in few other places. The Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile honours a reputation as “Italy’s Detroit,” while the National Cinema Museum reminds the world that the first blockbuster was made here, and inspired Hollywood. International eyes will be on the city this summer, when it hosts the third stage of the Tour de France.

89. Portsmouth

Over its 850-year history as one of the oldest ports in Britain, Portsmouth has been everything from the world’s first dry dock in 1496 to the world’s most fortified city in the early 1800s—all the way to the embarcation point for the D-Day landings. There is no better place to celebrate this year’s 80th anniversary of D-Day than at the city’s spectacular D-Day Story Museum, which hosts programming starting in May. Today, Portsmouth’s economy revolves around its operation as a major naval base, employing 10% of local employees. Given that Portsmouth is also the U.K.’s second port after Dover, all that skilled talent in town ranks #9 in Europe in our Educational Attainment subcategory, as well as enjoying the continent’s eighth-best Disposable Household Income. A two-hour train to London is increasingly attracting remote workers and startups, pushing Portsmouth’s Creative Class ranking to #11, fuelled by IBM’s U.K. headquarters and its vendors. Tourism is booming in 2024, too, with the new £11.25-million cruise ship passenger terminal that can handle ships of up to 300 metres in length, provide shore power and accommodate what local estimates say will be 155,000 passengers this year, a new record.

Ghent may be the second-largest city in Belgium today, but in the Middle Ages of northern Europe, it played second fiddle only to Paris. The temples to Ghent’s past prosperity are everywhere in the old city (and are protected as UNESCO sites). The Museum of Fine Arts is Belgium’s oldest museum (and turns 227 this year). Do not miss the newly restored Ghent Altarpiece, aka the Mystic Lamb painting, in St Bavo’s Cathedral. An augmented-reality experience will explain everything. In addition to its priceless history, Ghent is fearlessly living in the moment with citizens from 160 nationalities calling the city home (ranking it #36 for Creative Class), along with approximately 85,000 university students arriving each autumn to study at the city’s two universities and four university colleges, with Ghent University contributing to a #32 ranking in our Educational Attainment subcategory. The local accountability to the future has established programmes like energy-efficient city lighting, canal cleanup tours, low-emission zones, no-meat days and more equitable home-sharing platforms. The city is also building a new village to house Ukrainian refugees comfortably, ensuring its #23-ranked disposable income is put to good use.

91. Zaragoza

After centuries of Roman, Moorish and Catholic rule, this city holds its secrets in the Casco Viejo and its two spectacular cathedrals: Basilica del Pilar and the Catedral del Salvador. The massive plaza that connects them is a pedestrian wonder, drawing 300,000 people every October to mark the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the very spot almost 2,000 years ago. The entrenched reverence for Zaragoza is quickly understood by new talent flocking here (ranking #37 for Foreign-Born Residents) for not only Europe’s fourth-cheapest monthly rent but also for the myriad economic opportunities kicked off by Expo 2008. The city’s maritime port is expanding on the Ebro River that flows through it (Spain’s most voluminous and a vital transport corridor to both Barcelona and Bilbao). Zaragoza is also home to Spain’s air force and space force, their nearby airfields a NASA landing option. And the city is turning heads with its €280-million build of a treatment plant that will make it the first in the world to eliminate 100% of its waste, a key part of the city’s goal to be one of the 100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030.

92. Strasbourg

Tucked on the French side of the Rhine River, Strasbourg was only “strategically” bombed during the Second World War. As such, its medieval and Renaissance history was mostly spared and its Grande Île historic heart became the first urban centre in France to be recognised in its entirety by UNESCO. The city’s gothic Notre Dame de Strasbourg cathedral was built just 94 years after the Paris icon and is a portal into the history of this underappreciated city, especially in light of the Rhine panorama from its 142-metre spire. Strasbourg has also worked diligently for its “French Cycling Capital” bona fides (ranking #28 in our Biking subcategory), with more than 600 kilometres of bike paths and almost 20% of citizens biking to work across the 21 bridges and footbridges that connect Grande Île to the rest of the city. As the formal seat of the European Parliament, Strasbourg has long put citizens first, indicated by its relative affordability (#36 for Monthly Rent) and its #47 ranking for Poverty Rate, as well as ingenious public services like the new Solidarity Concierge, a one-stop post office, laundry, tool and small household appliance rental, and shoe repair venue.

93. Newcastle

One of England’s fastest-growing tech regions was setting the stage, long before the pandemic, as a destination for nascent companies ranging from data sciences and subsea technology to advanced manufacturing, as well as convincing iconic brands like Siemens, Procter and Gamble, Barclays and dozens of others to base their U.K. operations here. With a location just 2.5 hours from London by train and an airport that connects to 85 destinations, the Newcastle-as-HQ pitch is working, with more than 50,000 registered businesses, according to local numbers, and the city’s buildings either being reused or replaced entirely. The landmark development to watch is the Newcastle Helix, a 10-hectare central city quarter situated where the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery once stood. Developed in partnership with the University of Newcastle, the site will be a “testbed for innovative technologies and solutions tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing cities around the world.” Appropriately, it will feature plenty of affordable housing to rent or purchase. The city’s special blend of history-meets-youthful-energy is captured by Newcastle’s #31 and #38 rankings for our Sights & Landmarks and Nightlife subcategories, respectively.

94. Leicester

It’s been an eventful decade for Leicester. The archeological discovery of Richard III’s remains in 2012 and his reinterment at Leicester Cathedral in 2015 was a global event, as was the capture of the Premier League title by Leicester City in 2016. Development has returned post-pandemic, with new construction planned to ensure the city, boasting two universities, remains a competitive potential hometown for graduates. Amazingly, all that digging has unearthed even more treasures below the city streets, most recently a Roman place of worship that will join the city’s popular King Richard III Visitor Centre as a future museum. Leicester is often cited as the most excavated city in Britain, with 15% of the historic city centre dug up to expose its medieval, Anglo-Saxon and now even Roman history. Above ground, the buzz is back at Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, home to theatres, galleries and studios for more than 30 years since the conversion of the city’s textile and shoe manufacturing district. Business is booming at the city’s two-year-old Space Park, developed by the University of Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership as a cluster for innovative research, enterprise and education in space and Earth observation.

Often overlooked and infrequently lauded, Bulgaria’s capital is ready for takeoff as an affordable, talent-rich metropolis hungry for a seat at the European table with the confidence that comes from being a crossroads of commerce for millennia. A hometown for the Ottomans, Romans and (least inspiring, architecturally) the communists over its incredible 7,000-year history, Sofia today is (along with Istanbul) the most affordable European capital in our ranking (#10 for Monthly Rent). Her attractions (ranking an impressive #21) span the epochs, from Roman baths to Orthodox churches to quirky communist time capsules like the Red Flat, an interactive apartment that never fails to depress. The city’s treasures are increasingly walkable, and residents now report travelling by foot 30% more than in 2019, according to the new European Commission’s Quality of Life in European Cities survey. Impressively, Sofia ranks #11 for its biking infrastructure. Beyond the grid, the city ranks #28 in our Parks & Recreation subcategory and Europe’s cheapest skiing at Vitosha Mountain is 30 minutes away. New pro-EU mayor and tech millionaire Vassil Terziev sees the city’s talent superpower (#23 in our GDP per Capita subcategory) and has personally invested in more than 100 startups in the country.

96. Montpellier

The French call it la surdouée (the gifted one). The term of endearment has had particular resonance over the past 20 years, as Montpellier became the country’s fastest-growing city by population, with almost half of residents today aged 34 or younger. Most come for the University of Montpellier, founded in the 1100s, which makes it not only one of the oldest in the world, but also the planet’s oldest medical school still in operation. Several other universities and dozens of other schools mean that 70,000 students call the city home and provide ample talent for a rising economy. Montpellier’s impressive #17 ranking in our Creative Class subcategory backs this up. The U of M’s centuries of medical expertise have nurtured a growing life sciences ecosystem, joining existing tech and IT regional operations for IBM, Ubisoft and Dell, with dozens more firms arriving every year. The magnetism is obvious: a great climate, sun, affordability (ranking #31 in our Monthly Rent subcategory) and Mediterranean beaches a 20-minute bus ride away. The medieval walkable grid is enhanced with 150 kilometres of bike paths throughout the city, and even more leading to the sea—all contributing to a #57 ranking in our Biking subcategory.

Málaga is the urban gateway to the sun-drenched Costa del Sol in Spain’s southwest, within close proximity to 16 spectacular beaches that help the city rank #30 in our Outdoors subcategory. But while the busy port city buzzes with hedonistic vacationers who pour into the oceanfront high-rise hotels, this is also one of Spain’s most culturally significant cities—and not only because the modern skyline is dwarfed by two massive hilltop citadels (the Alcazaba and the ruins of the Moorish Gibralfaro) or because of the soaring Renaissance cathedral. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the death of native son Pablo Picasso, and the city is reclaiming the famous artist and sharing his local inspiration with the world throughout this year. Dozens of tours (from the church where he was baptised to the ring where he watched the bullfights), exhibits and workshops are still running, none more comprehensive than by the Picasso Museum Málaga (itself celebrating its 20th last year). The anniversary is a good reminder of the city’s 40 museums (ranked #49), including the cube-shaped waterfront Centre Pompidou Málaga, opened in 2015, and the Contemporary Art Centre of Málaga in the city’s kinetic Soho district.

Germany’s 11th-largest city is Europe’s fourth-largest port (at least when combined with Bremerhaven on the North Sea, 40 kilometres away) and ranks in our Top 100 for the first time. A massive investment planned for 2026, when the container port will be expanded and upgraded to handle increasingly larger container ships right on the North Sea, will ensure Bremen’s ranking will only improve. Especially when it starts taking market share from Hamburg. Even before hundreds of millions of euros are spent locally, Bremen’s trade and shipping commerce already provides the city with enviable economic prosperity, like the #23-ranked Poverty Rate and #38-ranked Disposable Household Income. The city has always been a gilded urban gem, founded 1,300 years ago, with the UNESCO World Heritage listing that comes with such history. In fact, this year is the 20th anniversary of the Town Hall and the Roland building receiving their designation. Both place the city’s Market Square among the most spectacular in Europe, if only because it also boasts multiple odes to the Brothers Grimm “Town Musicians of Bremen” classic. Once you feast your senses in Bremen’s heart, explore further afield on one of the ever-expanding bike paths in a city that ranks #36 for Biking.

99. Bologna

Timeless Bologna, home of the oldest continuously operating university in the world, is a well-balanced meal of a city, founded more than 2,000 years ago (with its streets today comprising a massive, textured open-air urban museum), yet kinetic, happy and optimistic, powered by thousands of international students. It also serves up some of the best actual meals in Europe as the nationally recognised culinary capital of this culinary country. Bolognese kitchens of centuries past invented parmesan, mortadella, parma ham, ragù, lasagne and balsamic vinegar. No wonder Italians love referring to it as La Grassa (the fat one). More visitors and residents are casting their eye on the city, especially after it topped the national Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper’s 2023 annual quality of life survey. Bologna is also a cultural feast, with an epic 2024 lineup that includes hosting the second stage of the Tour de France, the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna and the opening of the inaugural Italian Basketball Museum at the 5,000-seat PalaDozza (sure to improve the #35 Museums ranking). The city is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, the father of wireless and one of Bologna’s most illustrious citizens.

100. Toulon

You may have not heard much about the smallest French city to make it into our Top 100 this year, but in-the-know French residents (and investors) sure have. Toulon, after all, is only France’s 13th-largest city, but it is the sunniest, tucked between Marseille and St. Tropez and recognised as an idyllic hometown millennia ago, first by the Greeks, then by Roman sailors who built the old town (and its iconic 50 freshwater fountains), much of which still remains, at least after it was reconstructed following the Second World War. Serving for centuries as a strategic French naval port, today it’s the country’s largest, endowing the place with a working-class humility despite all the natural attributes of the French Riviera. Consider how this historic seafront gem boasts the 13th-lowest rents in Europe, or how it ranks #21 in our Creative Class subcategory for its ability to mix idyllic urban living with the option to either work remotely or at one of the growing startups, largely clustered in the Chalucet district that features a multimedia library in a stunning former chapel; art, design and business schools (with their own startup incubator); and residential buildings to keep all that talent close.

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The best city breaks in Europe

By Sarah James

Whether you’re looking for a whistle-stop weekend hop or a more languid, leisurely stay, much is to be said about the beauty and ease of a city break in Europe. There are the old favourites, of course – Paris , Amsterdam , Rome – but there’s a clutch of more offbeat places, too, with a fresh dynamism and a new wave of hot hotels and cutting-edge restaurants. Some of the best city breaks in Europe are packed with cultural splendour, others are known for their smart boutiques and world-class fashion scenes, while the best come with a sweep of golden sand. They’re all quick to get to from London – some are even a train ride away; so here’s our pick of the 38 best city breaks in Europe. If you're looking for a more affordable getaway, then take a look at our round up of the cheapest city breaks in Europe.

38 best city breaks in Europe

1. Kotor, Montenegro

Best for:  yachties Flight time:  2h45 min from London. Alternatively, fly to Dubrovnik in 2h40min – from here, it’s just under two hours to Kotor by car Train time:  Around three days from London via Belgrade, but it’s worth it – the final leg from Belgrade to Podgorica is one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe

Weighing in at just two-thirds the size of Wales and with a population of less than a million, the tiny Balkan state of  Montenegro  still flies under the radar for many European visitors – but just a few hours’ drives from better-known Dubrovnik, UNESCO-protected Kotor shares many of its Croatian neighbour’s charms. Circled by ancient stone walls, its warren of honey-dipped, maze-like streets was intentionally built in such a way to confuse invaders (the Venetian empire ruled her for over 400 years), and there’s a delicious sense that the city was frozen in time. The crystal-clear bay edging Kotor is high on natural drama – flanked by steep, brooding limestone and granite mountains plunging straight into the sea, it could easily masquerade as a Norwegian fjord. While you’re here, jump in a boat and zip out into the water to peek inside Our Lady of the Rocks, a beautiful church squirrelled away on a floating island in front of the city – and make time to scramble up Fortress San Giovanni for a birds’ eye view of the old town’s terracotta rooftops. Timing your visit with the start of the summer yachting season adds an extra layer of fun when glamorous crowds descend on Kotor’s lively waterfront restaurants before cove-hopping along the unspoiled Bay of Kotor.

Where to stay:  Located right on the marina,  Hotel Astoria is packed with character – but if you’ve got a boat at your disposal, stop off at achingly chic  One & Only Portonovi for a night or two on your way in or out of the city.

2. Syracuse, Sicily

Best for: archaeological enthusiasts Flight time: 3h10 minutes to Catania, which is around an hour’s drive from Syracuse Train time: around 24 hours from London via Paris and Milan and including a sleeper train across the Strait of Messenia to Sicily

In its Greco-Roman heyday, Syracuse was the world's largest and most important ancient city – and today, it’s home to some of Europe’s most celebrated archaeological ruins. But this diminutive, sun-drenched Sicilian city (a few years ago, it recorded  Europe ’s highest-ever temperature) is far more than the sum of its historical parts. With Mount Etna smouldering quietly in the background, glassy Porto Grande Bay gently curling around the city and a beguiling blend of Baroque, Greek, Roman and Medieval architecture packed into the narrow streets, the setting itself does much of the talking. A quick hop across the water leads you to Ortigia, Syracuse’s historical centre, where the daily food market is a hit on the senses and the contemporary restaurants draw critical acclaim. In the summer, rise early to snaffle a spot on the small pebbly beach at Spiaggia di Cala Rossa, or settle in for a coffee and some people-watching in glittering Piazza Duomo. Following your nose is the only real way to explore, but whatever you do, make sure you find your way to Antica Giudecca – their jumbo arancini balls are hands down the best street food in town.

Where to stay: Spread across two beautifully-restored 19th-century palazzi,  Hotel Gutwowski sits on the water’s edge in Ortigia. Ultra-minimalist, dreamy-creamy bedrooms look out over the coastline, and there’s a gorgeous rooftop terrace for sucking in the salty air.

3. Valencia, Spain

Best for:  food-lovers Flight time:  2h25min from London Train time:  around 15 hours from London, via Paris and Barcelona

San Sebastian  may be  Spain ’s undisputed culinary capital, but another unsung hero is clicking at its heels. Valencia is the birthplace of paella, Spain’s national dish – and ringed by orange groves bursting with sunshine-sweet citrus fruits, lauded for its bounty of fresh seafood and currently gearing up to host 2023’s  World 50 Best Restaurant Awards  – this city certainly isn’t lagging far behind. With a fraction of the tourist numbers of  Madrid  or  Barcelona , it’s easy to fall for Valencia’s small-town vibe and big-town buzz. Boundary-pushing architecture sits side-by-side with the city’s gothic-meets-baroque cathedral. At the same time, star attractions include the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and Europe’s biggest and best aquarium, harbouring Patagonian sea lions, beluga whales and black-tipped reef sharks. In the fifties, a devastating flood wrought havoc on the city and forced the government to reroute the river wending its way around the centre – in its place, the Turia Gardens is a 9km oasis of waving palms, boating lakes, manicured gardens and bicycle routes, making two wheels in this city more popular than four. There are beaches: a thrilling mix of pretty coves kissing the edge of old fishermen’s towns and vast open swathes of golden sand with nightlife dotted along the shore.

Where to stay: Make the most of Valencia’s coastal location by checking into  Balandret Hotel , a smart boutique hotel spilling onto the seafront. From here, it’s an easy meander through the Turia Gardens to reach the city centre, with bikes available to hire from reception. For more, see our pick of the best hotels in Valencia .

4. Lyon, France

Best for: foodie Francophiles Flight time: 1h40 minutes from London Train time: 4h41 minutes via the Eurostar

This French city could be our favourite wildcard destination. This gastronomy-obsessed spot has gone from strength to strength on the culinary scene. Head to Vieux Lyon for the small legendary hotspots with reputations that have pulled in foodies from around the world – Les Loges is a Michelin-starred restaurant hidden inside Cour Des Loges, while Daniel et Denise is a more rustic, classic place for chequered table clothes and decadent dishes. Work off your lunch with a hike (or hop in the funicular) up to the top of Fourvière to get a view of the city below, and admire the winding roads, sloping roofs and double-whammy of glistening rivers, the Saône and the Rhône.

Where to stay: For a seriously impressive stay, Cour Des Loges is a masterpiece in historic sophistication. This elegant hotel has decadent rooms, a world-class spa and, of course, the epic restaurant.

5. Tbilisi, Georgia

Best for: oenophiles Flight time: Around 6hr55min from London via Istanbul (no word yet on when direct flights will resume after they were paused during the pandemic) Train time: around three days, with stops in Paris and Istanbul and a bus to take you across the Turkish border

Sharing its borders with  Turkey , Armenia and Russia, Georgia’s intriguing geographical location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia lends itself to a complicated and often troubling past. But thanks to a flurry of government investment into the country’s once-dilapidated capital,  Tbilisi  now wears the crown as one of Europe’s coolest cities. A slew of new design hotels and smart boutiques helmed by emerging designers nod to the fresh creative spirit laying down its roots in the city – while by night, crumbling Art Deco mansions transform into underground speakeasies and converted Soviet-era factories moonlight as techno-pounding super clubs to rival Berlin’s. Thankfully, the old town hasn’t lost its soul, and its dusty pockmarked alleyways, pastel-coloured rickety wooden houses, Orthodox church spires and flea markets to rummage through provide a compelling contrast. It’s a little-known fact that Georgia is the oldest wine-making country in the world, and top-notch, laid-back wine bars are ubiquitous here – a decent bottle will set you back just a few pounds. The country is also renowned for its deeply comforting, fuss-free cuisine – and feasts of broth-filled khinkali dumplings and cheese-laded khachapuri bread will leave you begging the chefs for the recipes to take back home.

Where to stay:  With its industrial-chic interiors,  Stamba Hotel is something of a mirror into the city itself – and its lively Pink Bar and Café Stamba are ideal spots to rub shoulders with Tbilisi’s creatives and aesthetes.

6. Palma, Mallorca

Best for:  lo-fi island life Flight time:  2h10min from London Train time:  Around 24 hours, with stops in Paris and Barcelona and a ferry crossing from Barcelona to Palma

Most people think of  Mallorca  and picture the Balearic beauty’s paradisical beaches and seductive mountain villages. But it’s well worth treating the island’s chic capital as more than an airport launchpad. Rising out of the harbour in a rush of golden stone and extraordinary Moorish architecture,  Palma  feels deliciously grown-up – and a world away from the brouhaha of  Mallorca’s beach  clubs and party towns. Its gothic cathedral is nothing short of an architectural wonder, and its raft of artisan interiors shops, kooky art galleries, lively rooftop bars, and experiential restaurants (Vandal, the city’s top table to book, is helmed by ex-Noma culinary wizard Bernabe Caravotta) are reason enough to visit alone. And though they may not be among the island’s most prolific, the beaches here still warrant a mention: palm-shaded Ca’n Pere Antoni stretches for miles along the city promenade, while locals prefer to head to the charming fishing village of Portixol. Just a 10-minute ride out of town, it’s a blissful spot for an early evening dip, followed by dinner at one of the homespun seafood restaurants stacked up along the shore.

Where to stay:   Can Bordoy ’s orange-tree-shaded courtyard and rooftop pool provide welcome respite during steamy Palma summer afternoons – and the hotel’s restaurant, Botanic, is a destination in its own right.

7. Lisbon, Portugal

Best for : cool capital vibes Flight time: 2h 45min from London Train time: In around 24 hours, via Paris and Spain

For the past few years there has been a growing buzz about Lisbon , the hilly coastal capital with pastel-coloured buildings in the old town and trundling yellow trams. There are flea markets and food stalls; street art by Shepard Fairey and shops that champion home-grown design talent. In the evenings, join the youthful creative crowd that gathers at restaurants run by brilliant Portuguese chefs such as José Avillez, who has a number of dining spots in the city, and linger at upscale rooftop bars with dreamy cityscape views.

Where to stay: Almalusa Baixa/Chiado , minutes from the riverside, where the best rooms look out onto Lisbon’s stately municipal square. Memmo Alfama is another standout spot, particularly its rooftop pool where you'll find a classic view of Lisbon's winding streets and colourful buildings. See our edit of the best hotels in Lisbon for more.

8. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Best for: a laid-back, almost car-free city Flight time: 1h 15min from London Train time: The Eurostar now goes direct from London to Amsterdam in 3 hours and 55 minutes

Amsterdam has well and truly shed its stag-do image. These days the compact city is all about creatives pedalling around on their bicycles and buying artisanal bread and cheese at the Saturday Noordermarkt. For a European city break, Amsterdam offers heavy-hitting art galleries and museums (the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are both musts), cool cafés and independent fashion boutiques (the best are in the Nine Streets neighbourhood). But really, there’s nothing nicer than a morning spent strolling along the pretty canals lined with townhouses and soaking up the chilled vibe of the place.

Where to stay: The Hoxton 's five stitched-together canal houses are the city's coolest stay. Another option is the whimsical Pulitzer Amsterdam , designed by Jacu Strauss and ideal for a romantic break. For more, see our pick of the best hotels in Amsterdam .

Jahnavi Bhatt

Anna Prendergast

Connor Sturges

Olivia Morelli

9. Venice, Italy

Best for: unbeatable romance Flight time: 2h 10min from London Train time: In around 19 hours, via Paris and Turin

Venice is always a spectacular destination. But beyond the obvious tick-off-the-list landmarks – glittering St Mark’s Basilica, Gothic Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge – there is a quiet labyrinth of cobbled streets and narrow canals to explore. Art fans shouldn’t miss the 20th-century masterpieces in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Miró, Mondrian, Dalí) or the Venice Biennale, which typically runs from May to November.

Where to stay:   Casa Burano , on colourful Burano Island, is a slice of authentic Venice without the crowds. For something grander, check in to  Il Palazzo Experimental , where balconies have postcard views over the Giudecca Canal and  aperitivo  hour at the bar is essential. See our guide to the  best hotels in Venice . 

10. Paris, France

Best for: chic boutiques Flight time: In around 1 hour and 15 minutes from London Train time: The Eurostar goes direct to Paris in 2 hours and 19 minutes

The classic city break in Europe, getting lost in Paris is half the fun; the only real way to explore the city’s 20 different arrondissements is on foot, stopping to people-watch on wicker-chair-lined café terraces spilling onto beautiful cobbled streets. The most romantic city in Europe (and the world) hasn’t just got world-class culture, it’s also got smart boutiques, cutting-edge concept stores, jewel-box patisseries, colourful flea markets and a superlative food scene. And if you’re coming from London, you don’t even have to get on a plane to get there.

Where to stay:   Cheval Blanc Paris , with its global art collection and sleek rooms that overlook the Seine, is one of the best new hotels in 2022. For something cosier and velvet-covered, reserve a room at the boutique  Monsier George  in the 8th arrondissement. See our pick of the  best hotels in Paris . 

11. San Sebastian, Spain

Best for: Eating Flight time: Fly to Biarritz or Bilbao in around 1h 55min. San Sebastian is a 45min drive from both airports Train time: Around 10 hours, changing in Paris and a choice of other stop-off points in France

With more Michelin stars per square metre than anywhere else in the world, San Sebastian is the ultimate culinary destination. Yet it’s not all about the food. The gastro-capital of Europe’s elegant architecture and two beaches (one a sweep of glorious golden sand, the other a surfers’ nirvana) make this sophisticated city one of Spain’s most handsome Atlantic resorts. The best way to get under its skin is by sampling the local pintxo-bar scene, washed down with a glass of local tzakoli fizzy wine. For true once-in-a-lifetime cooking, snag a reservation at one of the city’s gourmet hotspots such as Mugaritz or Arzak. If you’re feeling active, hike up to Monte Urgull to visit the remains of the city’s 12th-century fort, or paddleboard across to Santa Clara Island – the cool waters lapping the shore bring welcome respite during the steamy summer months.

Where to stay: Arbaso , the city’s coolest new urban hotel where suites are so large they feel like apartments and have perfect views of the Cathedral. Sun lovers should check out Lasala Plaza which has its own rooftop ‘solarium’ with a swimming pool and bar. See our best hotels in San Sebastian for more recommendations. 

12. Reykjavik, Iceland

Best for: Adventure Flight time: 3h 10min from London Train time: N/A 

Iceland ’s diminutive capital is small enough to explore in a day, yet size doesn’t stop this Nordic star from pulsating with a big city energy. During the summer, the city hardly sleeps, with revellers pouring out of bars and clubs to chase the midnight sun. Rather than hurtling between big-ticket attractions, this is a city to take in slowly. Spend a weekend soaking in the fresh air (it’s a welcome antidote to some of Europe’s more traffic-clogged capitals), bathing in the city’s geothermal pools and joining puffin and whale-watching tours just offshore. And once you’ve ticked off the main sites, use the city as a base for exploring the country’s more otherworldly wonders. You only need to drive 30 minutes out of Reykjavik for a glimpse of the glaciers, lava fields, and natural drama that give Iceland gets its bucket-list reputation.

Where to stay: The Reykjavik Edition is a breath of cool, fresh air in a city which lives and breathes style and creativity. Outside of Reykjavik, Hotel Rangá is a chic log-style cabin in the middle of Iceland’s south coast. For more, see our guide to the best hotels in Iceland . 

13. Rome, Italy

Best for: a step back in time Flight time: 2hr 30min from London Train time: In around 19 hours, via Paris and Turin

Rome isn’t just a city, it’s an open-air museum. Crumbling landmarks and classical ruins dot the cobbled streets of the centro storico and line the grand boulevards, while the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon mark the city’s 3,000-year history. It’s got a world-class art scene, Renaissance palazzos, Baroque churches and, of course, a whole country within the city: Vatican City is the grand centre of the Roman Catholic Church, an independent city-state and one of the most formidable sites in the Western world. Head up the city’s seven hills to the cool neighbourhoods of Monti or Trastevere, where lively trattorias spill out onto the pavements and piazzas, and locals and tourists alike come out to soak up la dolce vita .

Where to stay:   Hotel Vilòn , a boutique hotel that perfectly showcases the city’s sharp sophistication. For something edgier,  Hotel Chapter Rome  offers a taste of New York cool in Rome. See our guide to the  best hotels in Rome . 

14. Antwerp, Belgium

Best for: cool concept stores Flight time: 3hr 30min on the Eurostar from London St Pancras, changing at Brussels Train time: In around 3.5 hours via Brussels

Paris, Amsterdam and London – those city-break big hitters – may only be a couple of hours or so from pocket-sized Antwerp, but here’s a city that’s reassuringly less visited, cheaper, edgier and stuffed full of savvy creatives. And despite its size, this achingly cool port town packs a punch, racing to keep up with its better-known European fashion neighbours. It’s home to stylish concept stores; the studios of design greats such as Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester; diamond dealers; urban beach clubs; and streets humming with outdoor bars and cool restaurants. And, best of all, you can get here by train – Antwerpen Centraal station is a sight to behold.

Where to stay: August , a hotel set inside a former Augustine convent – with many of its original features still intact.

15. Valetta, Malta

Best for: History buffs Flight time: 3h 15min from London Train time: Around two days, changing in Paris and various stop-off points in Italy, before taking a ferry across to Malta

Clocking up over 300 days of sunshine each year, Valletta is Europe’s sunshine city – and Malta’s tiny capital makes an ideal city break for those in search of a warm-weather escape. Once dilapidated, now a hub of design hotels and buzzing bars, with a packed calendar of cultural events, this modest beauty wears its fascinating history with pride. Flit between the extraordinarily elaborate St John’s Co-Cathedral (home to two of Caravaggio’s greatest masterpieces) and the achingly modern Parliament Building. Then putter across the harbour to the Three Cities, a trio of ancient fortified towns so beautifully preserved they feel like stepping into a 17th century time capsule. You could easily cross from one end of the city to the other in less than half an hour, so if you’re here for a few days, the island’s intoxicating countryside and the coast is begging to be explored.

Where to stay: Iniala Harbour House , spread across four beautifully-restored townhouses – the hotel doubles up as an art gallery showcasing the talents of local Maltese creatives.

16. Copenhagen, Denmark

Best for: design ideas Flight time: 1h 50min from London Train time: In around 20 hours from London, via Brussels and Cologne

For real-life interiors inspiration, as opposed to scrolling through images on Instagram, Copenhagen is the ultimate go-to, from the flagship store of beloved homewares brand Hay to Stilleben for accessories (smoked-glass vases, retro floral tea cosies, rose-quartz teaspoons) and art prints from the Paper Collective Design Gallery. Even the best restaurants – Noma 2.0 , the Ilse Crawford-designed Winterspring dessert bar – have desirable interiors, meaning you can soak up style ideas as you eat.

Where to stay: Hotel Sanders , the vision of former Danish ballet star Alexander Kølpin, where the sophisticated design is on point.

17. Florence, Italy

Best for: cultural majesty Flight time: 2h 10min from London Train time: In around 18 hours from London, via Paris and Milan

The museums here are chock-full of world-famous, priceless Renaissance art, from the Uffizi (with works by Botticelli, Caravaggio and da Vinci) to the Galleria dell’Accademia (Michelangelo’s David is the biggest crowd-pleaser). Not to mention the dizzy-making ceiling frescoes in the Magi Chapel of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi; 16th-century sculptures dotted among the trees and roses in the sprawling Boboli Gardens; and views of the red-tiled roofs of the city from the Duomo’s bell tower. A head-spinning tour of sensational sights.

Where to stay: SoprArno Suites , a 16th-century palazzo in the hip Oltrarno district where rooms are furnished with eclectic flea-market finds. For more, see our best hotels in Florence guide. 

18. Braga, Portugal

Best for: an under-the-radar artistic escape Flight time: 2h25 minutes from London to Porto, then a 40 minute train ride to Braga Train time: around 44 hours with at least three changes

This underrated European city also happens to be one of its most creative – and just a 40 minute train ride from Porto. UNESCO recognised Portugal’s third-largest city as Creative City for its contribution to global media art and technology, and places like the Duarte Sequeira gallery regularly hosts some of the world’s most exciting up-and-coming artists. For more classic art, visit the Nogueira da Silva Museum where a collection of historic work including Renaissance pieces and Portuguese painting makes for a well-spent afternoon. The city has some excellent food options too – Tabique offers modern small plates in a pared-back space, and Bonna Pastelaria on Rua Dom Paio Mendes has a great selection of gluten-free sweet treats (including pastel de natas).

Where to stay: Hotel Vila Gale Collection Braga is right in the city centre, a converted monastery overlooking the city’s main square, just a hop and a skip away from the Braga Se Cathedral.

19. Stockholm, Sweden

Best for: a slice of Scandi lakeside living Flight time: 2h 25min from London Train time: In around 27 hours, via Brussels and Cologne

Spread across 14 islands all connected by bridges, Stockholm really comes into its own in the spring and summer when the loveliest way to explore is by boat. Float from the historic old town, Gamla Stan, on Stadsholmen to artsy Södermalm (don’t miss the excellent Fotografiska gallery, housed in a former customs building on the waterfront), then on to the green oasis of Djurgården island, where the Rosendals Garden café is a great pit stop for lunch (you eat in greenhouses surrounded by orchards).

Where to stay: Ett Hem , a townhouse hotel with relaxed home-from-home interiors by design doyenne Ilse Crawford.

20. Seville, Spain

Best for: guaranteed sun Flight time: 2hr 45min from London Train time: In around 23 hours, via Paris, Hendaye, Valladolid and Madrid

The sun-drenched Andalusian capital is one of Europe’s steamiest cities. Come for glasses of ice-cold sherry and plates of jamón; the orange-scented air; quaint medieval lanes; whitewashed houses; a fiery flamenco scene, extravagant Moorish architecture and the world’s largest cathedral – with Columbus' tomb hidden inside. There’s a real old-world glamour to Seville; 17th-century palaces have been converted into stylish hotels and horse-drawn carriages line up beside pretty courtyards filled with tinkling fountains.

Where to stay:  The neo-Moorish  Hotel Alfonso XIII , ever since it opened in 1929, has set the benchmark for Spain’s grand hotels. For a boutique stay, try  Corral del Rey , where two of the rooms have private pool terraces. For more recommendations, see our guide to the  best hotels in Seville . 

21. Berlin, Germany

Best for: the in-flux art scene Flight time: 1h 50min from London Train time: In around 9 hours, via Brussels and Cologne

Berlin is a fascinating place and a monument of living history. The Berlin Wall was dismantled in 1989, but the East and West still show signs of the political, cultural and physical divide that existed for almost 30 years. Yet the city is by no means stifled by its extraordinary past – it now hurtles headfirst into the future with hip bars and an unrivalled party scene, smart hotels, gourmet restaurants and experimental art galleries. There is plenty to see, from the graffiti-covered remnants of the wall itself to Hitler’s bunker, the Norman Foster-designed Reichstag dome, the New Synagogue and the Berlin Zoo.

Where to stay:   Sir Savigny Hotel  in Charlottenburg, where masculine interiors are inspired by the hotel’s namesake, a fictional character imagined as a well-travelled bon vivant. Architecture buffs will want to check in to  Hotel Oderberger , which was once a palatial public bathhouse designed by Pergamon Museum architect Ludwig Hoffmann in 1989. See our guide to the  best hotels in Berlin .

22. Warsaw, Poland

Best for: cutting-edge creativity Flight time: 2h 25min from London Train time: In around 16 hours, via Brussels and Cologne

Edgy art collectives with studios in the old industrial quarter; vintage shops and jazz cafés that appear almost overnight among dilapidated houses; innovative chefs revolutionising the food scene – these are just some of the trends making Warsaw feel so fresh and exciting right now. There are also speciality coffee roasters and a lively speakeasy bar scene, and the Neon Museum, which is devoted to preserving dazzlingly inventive Cold War-era signs from the former Eastern Bloc country.

Where to stay: Raffles Europejski , a grand old city staple recently refreshed with a new, understated elegance.

23. Gothenburg, Sweden

Best for: A city break with a conscience Flight time: 1h 55min from London Train time: Around 20 hours, via Brussels and a choice of other stop-off points in Germany and Denmark

Stockholm's easy-going little sister Gothenburg still flies under the radar for most city-breakers. For the past four years, this port city on the southwestern coast of Sweden has been crowned the most sustainable destination in the world. More than half of its public transport network runs off renewable energy and ahead-of-the-curve restaurants hone in on zero-waste, ultra-locavore cooking (the black lobster plucked from the waters here is considered the best in the world). Ethical fashion stores fill the wide boulevards, and even the rides at the world-famous Liseberg Amusement Park are powered by wind energy. It’s the perfect city/nature hybrid, and after visiting the impressive art collection at the Kondstmuseum or joining locals in their daily Fika ritual (tucking into tea and cake), it’s an easy cycle ride to reach the end of the peninsula. From here, ferries shuttle visitors across to the neighbouring coastal islands, where kayaking, fishing and wild swimming await.

Where to stay: The super-central Clarion Hotel Post , which has a slick rooftop pool.

24. Athens, Greece

Best for: a historical hit Flight time: 3hr 40min from London Train time: In 2-3 days, with potential stop-off points in Paris, Munich , Zagreb, Belgrade or Sofia

With its alluring blend of ancient and modern and a skyline stretching all the way down to the Aegean, Athens has undergone a real renaissance in recent years to become of the best city breaks in Europe. There are still pockets of the city that have kept their authentic grit, of course – the Acropolis looms large over hilly streets filled with tumbledown buildings and politically charged street art – but a new wave of creative energy is leading the change. Today, the city is filled with kooky pop-ups, start-ups, art galleries, cool little boutiques and a slew of exciting new hotels. And there are beaches too: pine-fringed peninsulas and stretches of empty golden sand where rustic family-run tavernas rub along with glamorous beach clubs .

Where to stay: xenodocheio Milos , located smack bang in the commercial and political heart of Athens and born from chef Costas Spiliadis. We also like Perianth Hotel , a modernist, super-central stay by one of Greece’s hottest design studios. See our pick of the best hotels in Athens . 

25. Oslo, Norway

Best for: outdoor pursuits Flight time: 2hr 10min from London Train time: In 2-3 days, with potential stop-off points in Brussels, Hamburg , Cologne, Copenhagen and Gothenburg

Oslo may have always lagged behind its better-known Scandi neighbours Stockholm and Copenhagen, but this easy-going city still has bags of appeal. Make no mistake, it’s expensive, but with its blend of top restaurants, fantastic museums, pretty 19th-century architecture and a burgeoning art scene, this compact city has a newfound confidence. And there’s more: it’s circled by mountains and sea, so visitors can hike in the summer, ski in the winter and visit the region’s lush green fjords filled with pretty forest-shrouded islets all year round.

Where to stay: The Thief , a modernist boutique hotel with a credible art collection and the best harbour views in town.

26. Milan, Italy

Best for: fashion Flight time: 1hr 55min from London Train time: In around 14 hours, via Paris

The fashion industry may be the lifeblood of Italy’s capital of chic, but beyond the sophisticated storefronts and grand design houses, Milan boasts a haul of its own cultural treasures, too. The magnificent Gothic Duomo – the third largest church in Europe – has views stretching all the way to the Alps; Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper adorns the walls of the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery, while the La Scala opera house is the world’s best. And if you want to escape the city, the glamorous, mountain-fringed shores of Lake Como are only an hour away by train.

Where to stay: Set in an early 20th-century residence a few steps from the Fashion District, the Mandarin Oriental is one of the top addresses to know about. At Bulgari Hotel Milano you'll find a jet-set crowd mingling within its gorgeous garden and 12-metre gold mosaic swimming pool. For more, see our pick of the best hotels in Milan . 

27. Cardiff, Wales, UK

Best for: shopping and greenery Flight time: A flight from London to Cardiff would take around half an hour, but with the extra time of getting to and from airports it's much more worth your while to take the train. Train time: the train from London Paddington to Cardiff takes just under two hours.

This all-too-often overlooked UK city is one not to forget about when considering a European city break. Cardiff moves to the beat of its own drum, not one for fads or trends. The Welsh capital is home to a host of independent shops and cutesy boutiques, with lots of neighbourhood restaurants to stop off at for a mid-shopping spree break. Book a table at Dusty’s in Canton for Neapolitan pizza, or head to Brother Thai for the legendary sticky spicy beef. The city stays true to the country’s green reputation – there are plenty of parks in the city centre (Bute and Roath are two of our favourites), but it doesn’t take long to escape the city borders to find some classic Welsh woodlands.

Where to stay: Cardiff is yet to welcome many hotels worthy of its idyllic city-break reputation, but its Airbnb scene is where it’s at. This city-centre townhouse is sleek, modern and sleeps four.

28. Porto, Portugal

Best for: port tasting in the prettiest setting Flight time: 2h 25min from London Train time: In around 23 hours, via Paris with various potential stop-off points in France, Spain or Portugal

With a distinctly different character to Lisbon (it’s easier to navigate on foot, for starters), Porto is perhaps most famous for its port-wine cellars on the south side of the Douro River. Take a guided tour, followed by a tasting, before making your way back over the Dom Luís I Bridge to wander the photogenic streets of the UNESCO World Heritage Ribeira old town and while away the afternoon at a riverside bar.

Where to stay: Torel 1884 , a former palazzo that feels like a lovely private home. For views of the Douro, try Torel Avantgarde , a boutique hotel within walking distance of São Bento train station. For more, see the best hotels in Porto . 

29. Edinburgh, UK

Best for: architecture Flight time: 1hr 30min from London or 4hr 20 mins on the train from London Kings Cross Train time: Direct trains go from King’s Cross in around 5 hours

For a city break closer to home, Scotland’s cultural and political capital also happens to be one of Europe’s loveliest cities. Wander down cobbled lanes, stroll up one of the city’s seven hills for far-reaching views of the turreted skyline stretching all the way down to the coast, and admire the varied architecture of the distinctly Georgian and medieval parts of the city. A trip during the summer, when the Fringe – the largest arts festival in the world – brings the city alive, is a must. And if you want to escape to the country, spend a night or two at Gleneagles , just an hour’s drive up into the Highlands . The all-singing, all-dancing hotel has had a slick makeover – and it’s now one of the UK’s hottest places to stay.

Where to stay: Eden Locke – with its hipster Georgian-townhouse studio apartments – is an incredibly affordable option in a central George Street location. For a quintessential stay, The Balmoral is the city's grand dame hotel. See our guide to the best hotels in Edinburgh . 

30. Barcelona, Spain

Best for: the perfect sea-city combo Flight time: 2h 5min from London Train time: In around 17 hours, via Paris and a choice of other French stop-off points

Madrid might be the Spanish capital, but Barcelona draws the crowds for its winning mix of Modernist Gaudí architecture, Michelin-starred restaurants, characterful barrios and clutch of golden beaches. To one side of the marina, Barceloneta thrums with locals in summer; for quieter, emptier stretches of sand keep walking north along the coast to neighbouring Nova Icària and Bogatell (from here you can nip inland to the arty El Poblenou neighbourhood). Keen kite surfers head south to Castelldefels, a 30-minute drive away.

Where to stay: Ian Schrager’s The Barcelona Edition , with its be-seen rooftop pool and basement cocktail bar/nightclub. At ME Barcelona , suites are worth the splurge; several count expansive terraces with Jacuzzis where you can soak while taking in sweeping city views. See our pick of the best hotels in Barcelona for more. 

31. Budapest, Hungary

Best for: a spa scene Flight time: 2hr 30min from London Train time: In around 22 hours, via Brussels, Cologne and Munich

Hungary ’s capital is broken into two distinct parts – Buda and Pest – split by the beautiful Danube River running right through the middle. Most of the action happens in Pest, on the east of the river – here, you’ll find scores of smart restaurants, cool street-food spots, big-name stores and grand, gilded cafés. But wander across the landmark Chain Bridge to find the more authentic side. Over in hilly Buda, there’s the magical Buda Castle and some of Budapest’s best-known thermal baths: the city was founded by the Romans for its healing waters, and the spa scene is just as much a part of daily life today as it was back then.

Where to stay: Matild Palace , a restored heritage building right on the river.

32. Marseille, France

Best for: Culture by the sea Flight time: 1h 55min from London Train time: Around 6h 45min from London, changing in Paris

Travellers often overlook Marseille , heading to more polished Nice, the leaping-off point for glitzy jaunts along the Cote d’Azur. But this multicultural city is shaking off its bad-boy reputation. Rise early to catch the seafood market at the Norman Foster-designed Vieux-Port, get your art fix at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and then dip into the flurry of smart boutiques slowly overtaking the city’s pastel-hued streets. The emblematic hilltop basilica boasts widescreen views – work up an appetite climbing to the top before tucking into a steaming bowl of bouillabaisse at locals’ favourite Chez Fonfon, squirrelled away in a quiet inlet just outside the centre. Not only is the city full of cultural riches; it’s the gateway to the Calanques National Park – one of the wildest sweeps of the Mediterranean coastline packed with jaw-dropping hiking trails and azure-blue swimming bays.

Where to stay: Tuba Club , a former scuba diving school turned boutique hotel, set on rocky cliffs overlooking the Med. For more, see our guide to the best hotels in the South of France . 

33. Naples, Italy

Best for : an authentic slice of Italian life Flight time: 2hr 40min from London Train time: In around 20 hours, via Paris and Milan

Naples may be indelibly chaotic, but it’s well and truly shed its image as the gritty, Mafia-ridden place it used to be. Its dishevelled centre is chock-a-block with churches, faded frescos, Caravaggios and tiny cloistered gardens, while a burgeoning art scene adds to the city’s dynamism. Many travellers only visit in transit, stopping off briefly before catching the ferry to the glitzier Capri , but – with the shadow of Vesuvius looming in the background – this is one of Italy’s most historically fascinating and authentic cities.

Where to stay: Primo Piano Posillipo , a funky four-bedroom B&B in a 19th-century palazzo. 

34. Prague, Czech Republic

Best for: grand cafés and microbreweries Flight time: 1hr 55min from London Train time: In around 19 hours, via Paris and Zurich

Prague is nicknamed the City of a Hundred Spires – its magnificent skyline is scattered with medieval church towers, while its streets are punctuated with striking Gothic and baroque architecture. Inside the UNESCO-protected old town, it’s a warren of uneven lanes and hidden courtyards, microbreweries, turn-of-the-century grand cafés and chocolate-box houses. But there’s another side to the city too: one of offbeat cultural venues, hip bars, arthouse cinemas and buzzy markets, squirrelled away in cool neighbourhoods including Holešovice, Prague’s former rundown meatpacking district.

Where to stay: The Augustine – hands down the city’s best hotel, with Olga Polizzi interiors and a sweeping courtyard restaurant.

35. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Best for: island hopping Flight time: 2hr 40min from London Train time: In around 36 hours, with potential stop-off points in Paris, Munich and Zagreb/Split

Byron famously called Dubrovnik the Pearl of the Adriatic, and it’s easy to see why. The UNESCO-protected, perfectly preserved old walled city is filled with elegant Baroque architecture, winding limestone streets and top-notch seafood restaurants, while the city’s lick of sun-drenched coastline is fantastic in the summer. Escape to the pine-covered Elafiti Islands on day trips, stopping to swim in secluded bays and secret coves, or head up the coast to visit the world-class wineries and oyster farms in the nearby Peljesac peninsula.

Where to stay: Villa Dubrovnik , set in a modernist glass and stone building perched on top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the Dalmatian Sea. 

36. Madrid, Spain

Best for: rooftop drinking Flight time: 2hr 25min from London Train time: In around 19 hours, via Paris and Barcelona

What the Spainish capital may lack in grand monuments and world-famous sites, it more than makes up for with its relentless energy and vibrancy. Each of the compact city’s barrios has its own distinct character; come for the art and the architecture; stroll through the beautifully manicured Retiro Park; and pick up everything from antiques to vintage fashion at El Rastro, one of Europe’s best-known flea markets. Dip in and out of family-run tapas bars, the sprawling Mercado San Miguel food hall and a clutch of brilliant Michelin-starred restaurants – or just people-watch from a pavement café with a fishbowl G&T.

Where to stay: The Principal Madrid , with its buzzy rooftop terrace and superlative city views. The undisputed grande-dame is Westin Palace Madrid , where a cocktail in La Rotonda lobby bar, beneath the famous stained-glass cupola, is a must. See our edit of the best Madrid hotels for more. 

37. Vienna, Austria

Best for: a wintery break Flight time: 2hr 30min from London Train time: In around 17 hours, via Brussels and Cologne

Austria ’s capital really comes into its own as a winter city break , when a crisp layer of snow covers the streets, its storied coffee houses emit a welcoming glow and pretty cobbled squares transform into magical Christmas markets . But with its beguiling blend of old and new, Vienna – one of the grandest city breaks in Europe – is spectacular at any time. It’s known for its imperial palaces, pristine gardens and gilded ballrooms and Mozart’s musical legacy; come for the opera, the waltzes or to listen to the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Where to stay: The grand, magnificent Park Hyatt Vienna – its bar is one of the city’s hottest.

38. Dublin, Ireland

Best for: revelry Flight time: 1hr 25min from London Train time: Direct trains to Holyhead take just under 4 hours, while the ferry to Dublin takes just over 3 hours

Dublin is often voted one of the friendliest cities in the world, with its down-to-earth atmosphere and welcoming people. It’s a city rich in history, too, with its narrow streets, beautiful Georgian squares, majestic St Patrick’s Cathedral (the largest in Ireland) and imposing castle. Discover the city’s legendary pubs, rifle through a treasure trove of goods at the George’s Street Arcade flea market, bag a table at one of Dublin’s clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants or head along the coast for bracing walks along Dublin bay.

Where to stay: The Westbury , a grand, family-owned hotel with the best location in the city.

Old city of Bucharest, Romania

Istanbul, Turkey

Krakow, Poland

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tirana, Albania

100 Best Places to Visit in Europe – The Ultimate Bucket List

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With so many great options, choosing the best places to visit in Europe can be difficult, from city breaks filled with fascinating history and culture, getaways in nature among breathtaking landscapes and unique natural parks, or the best holiday destinations for a relaxing beach holiday with the whole family.

Venice, Paris and Verona are some of the most beautiful cities for a romantic holiday; Ibiza, Belgrade and Amsterdam promise the best parties and liveliest nightlife, while Riga, Florence and Vienna delight with history and art.

Iceland and the Faroe Islands dazzle outdoor enthusiasts with the most beautiful sceneries, while Croatia and the Greek Islands stand out for their pristine beaches and crystal clear water.

Manchester and Barcelona are some of the best cities to watch a football game in Europe, and for those who want to practice sports, consider Andorra for winter sports, the Azores for watersports and Norway for scenic hikes.

From the Spanish paella and the Italian pasta to the Ukrainian borsch, Europe is also a paradise for the foodies, with extraordinary and diverse gastronomy.

Ready to start planning your next trip?

1 – Venice, Italy

Venice is definitely one of the best places in Europe for a Romantic getaway, with lovely canals, hundreds of bridges and charming alleys, mixed with fascinating history, stunning architecture and a unique lifestyle.

Explore St. Mark’s Square, where the famous Doge’s Palace is located, one of the most visited landmarks in Venice and an impressive Gothic architecture masterpiece.

Next to the Palace, stop by one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe and the most important religious site in Venice, the Basilica of San Marco; and for a glimpse of the whole Venetian lagoon, climb to the St. Mark’s Campanile observation deck.

Cross the Paglia Bridge to admire the iconic Bridge of Sighs, and the Rialto Bridge – the oldest and most famous in Venice – for an overview of the Grand Canal. And, of course, take a boat tour or gondola ride, for a unique viewpoint of the canals!

Don’t miss a chance to explore the lovely islands of Murano, the perfect place to grab a souvenir, or watch a glass-making demonstration; and Burano, famous for its colorful houses.

• Venice tours

See also: Things to do in Venice , Doge’s Palace tickets , Best Venice boat tours , Tourist attractions in Venice , Best places to visit in Italy

2 – Paris, France

Speaking of romantic cities, Paris is a must on every couple’s bucket list. But there’s much more to do beyond an idyllic Seine River cruise, or watching the Eiffel Tower lit up!

From the prestigious Louvre to the acclaimed d’Orsay, Paris has more museums and monuments than one can count. The city itself is a work of art, and a free walking tour or a hop-on hop-off bus tour are the best ways to explore the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame, the Sacré Coeur, and all that Paris has to offer.

For those looking for some unusual things to do in Paris, the Catacombs are worth a visit, and for the football lovers, don’t miss the PSG Experience stadium tour!

With plenty of day trips available, the hardest part is choosing among a delicious tasting in the Champagne region, touring the beautiful châteaux of the ​​Loire Valley, or feeling the magic at Disneyland.

At nightfall, the city gets as exciting as during the day, with vibrant nightlife and many night tours to explore. Stroll through Montmartre or The Latin Quarter, grab a drink at the city’s best bars or attend a show at ​Lido de Paris or Moulin Rouge!

• Paris tours

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3 – Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the best places in Europe for those seeking good weather, good food, and exciting history, mixed with lively nightlife – especially at Bairro Alto.

Get lost in the narrow streets and charming alleys of the district of Alfama, the oldest in the city, stop by the Sé Cathedral and admire the views from the S. Jorge Castle.

For the architecture lovers, the Belém district is full of wonders, such as the Belém Tower or Jerónimos Monastery, the most magnificent examples of Manueline style – also known as the Portuguese late Gothic.

While in Lisbon, there are plenty of incredible day trips, such as the university town of Coimbra ; Aveiro, frequently labeled as the Portuguese Venice; or Fátima, the leading pilgrimage site.

However, no trip to Lisbon would be complete without visiting Sintra, the fairy tale city. With enchanting woods and a charming medieval village to explore, the cherry on top is the colorful Pena Palace, one of Portugal’s most renowned tourist attractions.

• Lisbon tours

See also: Things to do in Lisbon , Best tourist attractions in Lisbon , dBest  day trips from Lisbon , Pena Palace Sintra tickets

4 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Among the most bicycle-friendly cities in Europe, the charming capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is famous for its canals, a fascinating architecture mixture, and great coffee shops.

Immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture with a visit to Anne Frank’s House in the Jewish Quarter and browse through the city’s best museums, such as the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum.

Taking a day trip is always a good idea, especially in a beautiful country like the Netherlands. Visit the medieval town center of Utrecht, the modern metropolis of Rotterdam, or stop by Keukenhof during the spring for a magical glimpse of the tulips fields.

For a unique experience, sail through the picturesque canals on a canal cruise and marvel at the city’s landmarks.

• Amsterdam tours

See also: Things to do in Amsterdam , Best day trips from Amsterdam , Best tourist attractions in Amsterdam , Best museums in Amsterdam , Van Gogh Museum last minute tickets , Best Amsterdam canal cruises , Rijksmuseum tickets price

5 – Rome, Italy

The capital of the Roman Empire, Rome, has thousands of years of history and culture. It is famous for its stunning architecture, with the main attractions being the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.

Walking around the Eternal City is like visiting an open-air museum, and to check all of the best sites, take a city tour or a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

But there’s also plenty to see indoors, such as the Borghese Gallery, one of the most prestigious museums in the world. For those seeking unusual activities, check the Catacombs of Rome, the underground galleries used as a cemetery for centuries.

Once the sun sets, there’s still fun guaranteed in Rome, with exciting nightlife. Choose from the night tours available to explore the main attractions, embrace the culture and meet locals.

Due to its location, Rome is a perfect city to establish a base and explore the rest of Italy. Before the trip is over, take a day trip to Naples and the sunny Amalfi Coast, marvel at the Renaissance heritage in Florence, or visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Hadrian’s Villa or Villa d’Este in Tivoli.

See also: Things to do in Rome , Best day trips from Rome , Best Rome tours , Catacombs Rome tickets price , Hop on hop off Rome bus tours , Hadrian’s Villa tours from Rome , Villa d’Este tours from Rome , Rome night tours , Borghese Gallery last minute tickets , Borghese Gallery tickets price , Colosseum last minute tickets , Colosseum tickets price , Colosseum Underground tickets

6 – Tromsø, Norway

Where else in the world can combine the magic of the northern lights with the spectacle of city life? Tromsø, located in Norway, is one of the most unique cities in Europe and is known as the “Paris of the North” for good reason.

From reindeer sledding to restaurant excursions, you can enjoy a mix of outdoor adventure and urban living. During winter, the skies are illuminated with the aurora borealis. You can hit the slopes and go skiing or head indoors for some excellent shopping and dining. Between November and January is also an ideal window for whale watching.

Come summer, you can stay up all night with the Midnight Sun and explore the city, go hiking or join a cruise on the fjords to catch sight of the Arctic wildlife.

During your visit, don’t forget to soak up the culture. Plenty of festivals run throughout the year, including the Tromsø International Film Festival. You can even dine over a traditional meal with Sami reindeer herders and gain an appreciation for indigenous heritage.

• Tromsø tours

See also: Things to do in Tromsø , Best Places to See the Northern Lights Around the Globe

7 – Vatican City

The smallest country in the world and located inside of Rome, Vatican City is one of the best European destinations for Catholics or those seeking religious and cultural experiences.

Tour the city’s top-rated attractions, such as the Vatican Museums, with one of the world’s largest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel, to admire Michelangelo’s beautiful frescoes, or the St. Peter’s Basilica, to explore one of the holiest and most important pilgrimage sites.

Wander around St. Peter’s Square, a popular gathering point for tourists and book a seat at the weekly Papal Audience, held every Wednesday, because no trip to the Vatican is complete without seeing the Pope.

See also: Vatican Museum tickets , Vatican Museum early access tickets , Vatican Museum last minute tickets , Best Vatican tours , Papal audience tickets , Sistine Chapel early access tickets , St Peter’s Basilica skip the line tickets

8 – Dubrovnik, Croatia

Also known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, the sunkissed Dubrovnik welcomes thousands of tourists every year and marvels them with a unique seafront location and a pleasant Old Town.

Stroll through Cersei’s walk of shame and the Old City Walls on a Game of Thrones tour, that takes the fans across the many filming locations in Dubrovnik, one of the best European cities for TV shows fans.

Visit the top of Mount Srd and soak in the views from the Dubrovnik Cable Car; party at Banje Beach and enjoy many water activities, such as a kayak and snorkeling adventure!

To make the most out of the trip, go on a day trip to explore paradise islands, such as the Elaphiti Islands or Hvar, and pristine beaches in Budva or Makarska.

• Dubrovnik tours

See also: Things to do in Dubrovnik , Best day trips from Dubrovnik , Game of Thrones tours in Dubrovnik

9 – Canary Islands, Spain

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean along the African coast, with 8 unique islands to explore. A true gem for outdoor enthusiasts, with mild temperatures, sunny weather, and unspoiled natural attractions.

With plenty of exciting experiences available, Tenerife is the biggest island of the archipelago, home to Spain’s highest peak (also one of the highest volcanoes in the world). Go for a hike at Teide National Park (or take a stargazing tour), meet the animals at Loro Park, and swim with turtles.

Continue the trip with a visit to Fuerteventura, declared by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, highlighting the dazzling landscapes of Timanfaya National Park. Discover volcanic tunnels at Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes, and taste wine at the volcanic vineyards of La Geria.

Stop by Gran Canaria to stroll around Vegueta’s old town and relax at the best golden sand beaches. But the other islands are also worth a visit, at least on a day trip – La Gomera, with the unique Garajonay National Park; El Hierro with more than 40 diving points;

Save some time for La Palma, with the breathtaking La Caldera de Taburiente National Park; Fuerteventura with pristine beaches and La Graciosa with unique underwater flora and fauna.

• Canary Islands tours

See also: Things to do in Lanzarote , Things to do in Gran Canaria , Things to do in Tenerife , Things to do in Fuerteventura

10 – London, United Kingdom

London is at the top of the bucket list for most travelers, and it’s not hard to figure out why: one of the world’s most acclaimed and cosmopolitan cities, with over two millennia of history, rich in arts, science, architecture, politics, and lively nightlife.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with so many great things to do in London, to ensure the best sites such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and London Eye are visited, take a free walking tour or hop on a bus tour.

To relax from the fast pace of the city, stop by the Kew Gardens, meet the animals at London Zoo, visit one of the city’s many museums or catch a musical show.

Consider also taking a day trip to the prehistoric Stonehenge, the spa town of Bath, or the charming town of Windsor – with the main attraction being the Windsor Castle.

And of course, one cannot mention London without a Harry Potter tour and the chance to experience the magic Harry Potter Studio.

• London tours

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11 – Barcelona, Spain

Artistic, festive, and fun, Barcelona combines a rich cultural heritage with golden sand beaches and vibrant nightlife.

With the Sagrada Familia attracting visitors worldwide, Park Güell and Casa Batlló are also among the city’s highlights. Still, with so much to discover, it might be worth checking the Barcelona attractions passes to ensure the best deals and visit as many monuments as possible.

A walking tour and a hop-on hop-off bus tour are among the best ways to explore Barcelona, but the cherry on top is the helicopter tour for an unforgettable bird’s-eye view.

Stop by La Boqueria to taste some of Barcelona’s finest treats, and for the football fans touring the Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, is a must.

After checking all of the best tours Barcelona has to offer, it’s always a great idea to explore the surroundings on a day trip. Whether snorkeling on Costa Brava or skiing in Andorra, there’s something for every tourist!

• Barcelona tours

See also: Things to do in Barcelona , Best tourist attractions in Barcelona , Best day trips from Barcelona , Sagrada Familia tickets price , Best Barcelona free walking tours , Best places to visit in Spain

12 – Munich, Germany

With some of the best breweries and Biergartens in Germany, famous for the annual Oktoberfest celebrations, but also with a rich history, architecture, and delicious cuisine, Munich is a major European destination.

Grab a drink at Englischer Garten; explore the Old Town and see the Marienplatz or take a food tour at Viktualienmarkt; visit Nymphenburg Palace, the largest Bavarian palace, check all of Kunstareal District museums and cheer on Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena.

The whole Bavaria region is also worth exploring, so save time for a day trip to visit the magical Neuschwanstein Castle, the charming medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or ski at Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze.

• Munich tours

See also: Things to do in Munich , Best day trips from Munich

13 – Monaco

The sophisticated and glamorous city-state along the French Riviera, with mild temperatures and home to more millionaires than any other region in the world, Monaco is an excellent destination during the entire year and has plenty of fun things to do.

See the sharks at the Oceanographic Museum, stroll through Palais du Prince, take a walking tour around the charming Old Town, or catch a world-class performance at Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

For car enthusiasts, try a luxury car driving experience and get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini or a Ferrari.

Considering booking the trip during the F1 Grand Prix to catch one of the most thrilling and top-rated races in the world and, of course, try your luck at the best casinos – especially the Monte-Carlo.

• Monaco tours

See also: Things to do in Monaco

14 – Oxford, United Kingdom

Home to England’s oldest university, Oxford is a historical wonderland to explore, and the highlights include the Ashmolean Museum and the Museum of Natural History.

Oxford is one of the best European destinations for scholars and literature, and cinema enthusiasts, with places like Alice’s shop and Alice’s Window at Christ Church to explore.

Plenty of famous authors held academic positions at Oxford University, such as Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), J. R. R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings) and C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia), and only one hour drive away, it’s possible to explore Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Discover the most fabulous filming locations on a Harry Potter or Downton Abbey tour, from the Divinity School and Bodleian Library to the Cogges Manor Farm and St Mary’s Church.

• Oxford tours

See also: Things to do in Oxford

15 – Amalfi Coast, Italy

One of the most beautiful places in the world , attracting thousands of tourists every year, Amalfi Coast is the perfect spring/summer getaway, with a stunning coastline, breathtaking scenic drives and lovely villages to explore.

Start the trip in the port city of Salerno and climb to the top of Castello di Arechi to admire the unique views 270 meters above the gulf. Continue with Vietri sul Mare to appreciate as much art as possible and the typical colorful ceramics.

Stop by the small fishing village of Cetara and taste the delicious seafood before continuing to Maiori and soaking up some local culture and cuisine, or exploring the hidden gem of Tramonti.

Try Minori’s pasta factories, visit the 18th century Church of Santa Trofimena and walk along the Path of Lemons. For some jaw-dropping views, stop by Terrazza dell’Infinito in Ravello.

Head to the hills and check the oldest town in Amalfi Coast, the incredible medieval-style village of Scala, and proceed to the photogenic Atrani, before reaching the famous and energetic Amalfi.

Marvel at the magical Emerald Grotto in Conca dei Marini, before heading to Furore and crossing Fjord of Furore off the bucket list. Continue to Praiano and Positano, the perfect villages to relax by the superb white sand beaches, without forgetting the famous Path of the Gods hike.

• Amalfi Coast tours

See also: Things to do on the Amalfi Coast , Best Amalfi Coast boat tours

16 – Dublin, Ireland

Capital of Ireland, the famous Emerald Isle, thousands of tourists are attracted to Dublin for the legendary Guinness Storehouse, the Irish beer and lively pubs, but the city has much more to offer and has inspired so many artists with its unique beauty.

From James Joyce’s “Ulysses” to the filming location of “Braveheart”, also visit the deers at Phoenix Park, and tour the renowned landmarks, such as the Dublin Castle and the Trinity College.

When in Dublin, make sure to save time for a day trip and explore the stunning surroundings – any Game of Thrones fans out here? There are plenty of  Game of Thrones tours from Dublin available, stopping by the prominent filming locations in the area.

• Dublin tours

See also: Things to do in Dublin , Best day trips from Dublin , Guinness Storehouse tickets price

17 – Florence, Italy

Florence is easily among the best European destinations for art and history lovers. Birthplace of the Renaissance and one of the wealthiest cities during the medieval era, Florence became a top-tier artistic, commercial and political center.

Stroll through the massive Piazza del Duomo, which feels like an open-air museum, and climb to the Duomo’s dome for the most impressive view of Florence.

Discover the home of the Medici Royal Family at Pitti Palace and head to the gothic masterpiece of Palazzo Vecchio.

Florence houses some of the best and most visited museums in Italy, and to make the most out of it, consider grabbing a combined ticket to the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery.

Besides Florence, the whole Tuscany region deserves to be explored (make sure to not miss our list of things to do in Tuscany ). Take a day trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the medieval towers of San Gimignano or relax at the spa town of Saturnia.

• Florence tours

See also: Things to do in Florence , Best day trips from Florence , Florence Duomo tickets price , Florence Duomo tours , Palazzo Vecchio tickets price , Pitti Palace tickets price , Accademia Gallery tickets price , Uffizzi Gallery tickets price , Best museums in Florence

18 – Santa Claus Village, Finland

This amusement park located in Rovaniemi, in the Lapland region, is one of the best places to visit in Europe with children, but grants a whole lot of fun for the whole family.

The main attractions at the Santa Claus Village are the Arctic Circle, a white line painted across the park letting visitors know when they’ve officially entered the Arctic region.

In the heart of the village, the Santa Claus Office can be found, open since 1992 with the world’s nicest man welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the world in his office.

Due to its latitude, this charming village and its surroundings are perfect for some northern lights hunting. This stunning natural phenomenon will make the Santa Claus Village even more magical.

• Rovaniemi tours

See also: Things to do in Rovaniemi

19 – Milan, Italy

Busy and cosmopolitan, Milan is home to the major Italian fashion brands and offers a perfect mix of art and historical architecture, with impressive modern skyscrapers.

One cannot go to Milan without visiting one of the most sacred landmarks and among the most prominent Christian sites globally, the Duomo. Next to it, there’s the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the perfect place for window shopping across some high fashion boutiques.

Book a ticket to Santa Maria Delle Grazie, for the unique opportunity to admire Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, one of the most acclaimed works from the creative genius.

Milan is considerably quick to visit, making the perfect opportunity to combine it with a day trip to one of the nearby stunning lakes, such as Lake Como and Lake Garda; or a mountain adventure at the Swiss Alps or the Dolomites.

• Milan tours

See also: Things to do in Milan , Best day trips from Milan , Duomo Milan skip the line tickets , Santa Maria Delle Grazie tickets price , Last Supper Milan last minute tickets

20 – Meteora, Greece

Literally meaning “suspended in the air”, Meteora is an impressive area in Greece with unique rock formations shaped by the rain, wind and other natural phenomenons for millions of years.

But the most astonishing thing about the area is the Orthodox monasteries housed on top of the rocks, assembling one of the world’s largest and most important Orthodox monasteries complexes.

Before the monasteries were built, there were caves – such as the Theopetra Cave – inhabited for over 50.000 years and occupied by monks seeking refuge during the Turkish occupation.

During the 19th century, steps were carved into the rocks, but back in the days, the top was only accessible by ropes and retractable ladders, making it even more mind-blowing and worth a visit.

• Meteora tours

21 – Krka National Park, Croatia

Just one hour away from Split, along the Krka River, is one of Croatia’s best natural wonders, the Krka National Park.

Intended for scientific, cultural, and educational purposes, recreational and touristic activities quickly gained popularity among the visitors.

Visit one of the most preserved and unaltered ecosystems, with exceptionally rich flora. Even though it’s no longer possible to swim there, it’s still worth a visit to the Skradinski Buk, an incredible natural pool with a set of waterfalls.

Set aside one full day to explore the park and the footpaths, and consider taking either a sightseeing or boat tour.

• Krka (town) tours

22 – Bologna, Italy

The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region and world-famous for some of the most delicious pasta dishes, Bologna is one of the best places to visit in Europe for the foodies.

Try as many Tagliatelle al Ragù Bolognese as possible, and consider a food tour to taste the best cured meats, sausages, and cheeses across the city’s popular markets, such as the Quadrilatero Old Market and Mercato Delle Erbe.

Between food tastings, climb the Bologna Towers, once used by the wealthy families for defensive purposes. Wander around Bologna’s main square, Piazza Maggiore, and find the hidden canals at Finestrella di Via Piella.

• Bologna tours

See also: Things to do in Bologna

23 – Brussels, Belgium

Home to the European Parliament and known as the capital of Europe, along with world-class beer, delicious chocolate and waffles, mixed with rich history, architecture and museums, make Brussels a traveler’s dream.

Start exploring at the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Brussels, and don’t forget a visit to the Atomium.

To check all of the iconic landmarks like the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Palais Royal, consider either a bike or a bus tour, and stop by the world’s largest parliamentary visitor center, the Parlamentarium.

• Brussels tours

See also: Things to do in Brussels

24 – Berlin, Germany

Famous for its world-class museums and for being one of the most iconic European cities, Berlin combines turbulent history, high technology, and culture with authentic German pubs and Biergartens.

For the most breathtaking views of the city, visit the TV Tower and the German Parliament Building, also known as the Reichstag, and climb to its dome.

Consider a walking tour to learn about history at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and what’s left of the Berlin wall; walk across the Brandenburg Gate, and stroll through the main landmarks, such as the Alexanderplatz.

• Berlin tours

See also: Things to do in Berlin , Best free walking tours in Berlin , Reichstag Dome tickets , Berlin TV Tower tickets price

25 – Pompeii, Italy

Speaking of turbulent history, just 30 minutes away from Naples is a major UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited archeological sites in the world, the city of Pompeii is one of the best places to visit in Europe for history lovers.

Destroyed by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption, the quick burial of the Roman city allowed its preservation for centuries and its excavation provided unique information about life in the ancient world.

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii is definitely worth visiting and there are plenty of tours departing from nearby locations, such as the Amalfi Coast villages. There’s also the possibility to combine it with a climb to Mount Vesuvius.

Among the unmissable places to check are the Basilica, the Forum, the House of Faun and one of the oldest surviving Roman amphitheaters, the Amphitheatre of Pompeii. Get a skip-the-line ticket and start exploring right away!

• Pompeii tours

See also: Pompeii tickets price , Best Pompeii tours

26 – Andorra

This small country, located by the eastern Pyrenees, between Spain and France, is one of the best winter destinations in Europe when it becomes a ski and snowboard paradise.

Among the fun things to do in Andorra are plenty of ski areas, such as Pas de la Casa, Vallnord, and Grandvalira.

Andorra la Vella – the capital – is also worth checking, with the largest spa center in Europe, the magnificent Caldea, fed by mineral-rich thermal waters.

This is also an excellent destination for beautiful hikes and mountain biking experiences throughout the entire year. Enjoy a getaway in nature, amid lakes and mountains, with trails for all levels – such as the Tristaina Lake Trail.

• Andorra tours

27 – Manchester, United Kingdom

Manchester is one of the UK’s major creative hubs, with outstanding nightlife, lovely Victorian-era architecture, and a renowned sporting industry.

An excellent destination for sports lovers, start the trip with a tour of the two main stadiums, the Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, and Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City; and check out the National Football Museum.

With a thriving arts scene, there’s plenty to explore indoors – at the Manchester Art Gallery or The Whitworth – but also outdoors, on a memorable street art tour.

And the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Catch a performance at Manchester Opera House, which has hosted major musicals like the Phantom of the Opera; or see a show at one of Europe’s largest indoor arenas, AO Arena.

• Manchester tours

See also: Things to do in Manchester

28 – Madrid, Spain

Welcoming millions of visitors every year, the stunning capital of Spain, Madrid, promises a trip full of exciting things to do and unforgettable memories.

Start with a glimpse of the Spanish Royal Family life at the Royal Palace of Madrid and check the Almudena Cathedral nearby. Consider joining a free walking tour and exploring the unique districts, such as Barrio de las Letras or La Latina ​- and even a Money Heist’s filming locations tour.

With some of the finest European museums housed in Madrid, marvel at the greatest masterpieces from Goya, Reubens, or El Greco at Prado Museum, and Pablo Picasso’s Guernica at Reina Sofia Museum.

Due to its central location, Madrid is the perfect base for exploring other Spanish gems, such as the impressive medieval castle in Segovia, the wine region of Ribera del Duero, or the lively university city of Salamanca.

• Madrid tours

See also: Things to do in Madrid , Best day trips from Madrid , Best tourist attractions in Madrid , Royal Palace of Madrid tickets price , Reina Sofia Museum tickets price , Prado Museum tickets price , Madrid free walking tours

29 – Azores, Portugal

One of Europe’s best-kept secrets and often compared to Hawaii, the subtropical archipelago of Azores is a hidden gem in the Atlantic ocean. With nine inhabited islands, this is one of the best destinations for outdoor lovers and those seeking a nature retreat.

With mild temperatures and incredible coastline, Azores are a paradise for watersports enthusiasts. Step away from the shore and embark on some diving adventure or whale and dolphin watching.

Explore the beautiful trails and soak in the views of the Sete Cidades Caldera or Boca do Inferno viewpoint in São Miguel island; hike Mount Pico in Pico Island, Monte Brasil in Terceira, or Fajã Grande in Flores and spot many lakes, waterfalls, and breathtaking landscapes.

Also, in São Miguel, stop by Furnas Valley to check the geothermal wonder of Lagoa das Furnas, immerse in the hot springs of Terra Nostra Garden, and taste the unique Cozido das Furnas, a local stew made from meat and vegetable, slowly cooked underground with the hot springs steam.

• Azores tours

See also: Things to do in the Azores

30 – Loire Castles, France

Once the extravagant retreats of the French kings, designed for entertainment and enjoyment purposes, today, the fairy tale castles of the Loire Valley are one of the most fascinating European destinations.

With tours for all kinds of budgets, this dreamy multi-day trip easily reached from Paris must be on everyone’s list – the most challenging part is choosing which ones to visit, among so many great options.

The glorious and beautiful decorated Château of Chambord is one of France’s most famous castles; originally a fortified tower, Château de Villandry stands out for the marvelous Renaissance gardens.

With stunning views of the Loire River, Château d’Amboise might be small but equally worth visiting; Château du Clos Lucé, the official residence of Leonardo da Vinci between 1516 and 1519; and the list of the best Loire Valley Castles goes on!

• Loire Valley tours

See also: Best Loire Valley Castles to Visit from Paris

31 – Lake Bled, Slovenia

One of Slovenia’s most popular tourist attractions, with clear turquoise waters and a stunning tiny island with a church in the middle, Lake Bled is perfect for a summer getaway.

Easily reached from Ljubljana, the visit to Lake Bled can also be combined with Vintgar Gorge, another of Bled’s natural wonders.

Adventure on the lake on a boat ride, kayaking, or take a dip in the swimming area. For some land activities, hike the Ojstrica and Mala Osojnica loop trail.

The medieval Bled Castle is also worth visiting, sitting atop a cliff 130 meters above the lake, with stunning views – especially at sunset – and even a unique dining experience. Tasting the typical Bled Cream Cake called Kremšnita is a must for those with a sweet tooth.

32 – Mallorca, Spain

The sunny jewel of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca is one of the best European summer destinations and among the most popular Mediterranean islands.

Explore its spectacular coastline and relax at the most pristine white sand beaches of Cala Vella and Es Trenc Beach, or adventure on a snorkeling tour and explore the underwater wonders.

Wander around Palma de Mallorca Old Town, stop by the magnificent Palma Cathedral and delight yourself on a tapas tour.

Mallorca offers breathtaking landscapes, and hiking Serra de Tramuntana mountain is a must. However, don’t overlook the stunning underworld of Cuevas del Drach and Caves of Hams.

• Mallorca tours

See also: Things to do in Mallorca

33 – Cinque Terre, Italy

A popular Italian tourist destination, the coastal villages of Cinque Terre offer stunning beaches, photogenic colorful houses, thrilling hikes and superb cuisine.

Monterosso al Mare is the biggest of the five villages and the ultimate beach destination. Vernazza is famous for the colorful houses along the small harbor, with the castle on top of the hill, quickly becoming the most photographed spot in the region.

Riomaggiore, famous for delicious wine and olive oil, is connected to Manarola through Via dell’Amore, the most romantic footpath with incredible sea views.

Last but not least, stop by the oldest and smallest villa, Corniglia. Surrounded by lovely vineyards, stop by Saint Mary’s Terrace and soak in the views.

• Cinque Terre tours

See also: Best Cinque Terre boat tours , Fun things to do in Cinque Terre

34 – Faroe Islands

Tucked between Iceland and Norway, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Faroe Islands offer one of the best and most unique sceneries in Europe, and its popularity is quickly rising.

Explore Lake Sorvagsvatn and its optical illusion, with an angle where it looks like the river is floating above the ocean; marvel at the beautiful Mulafossur Waterfall in the village of Gasadalur and snap a picture of the iconic Drangarnir.

Home to thousands of Puffins, visit the Mykines island to meet these adorable birds. With more sheep than humans, you’re most likely to encounter these fluffy inhabitants during the trip.

Despite the remote locations, exploring the Faroe Islands on a road trip is very easy, especially with the underwater tunnels connecting them.

35 – Krakow, Poland

One of Poland’s oldest cities and the second-largest one, there are several reasons to visit the historical Krakow.

Start by wandering around the charming old town and let this UNESCO World Heritage site transport you back to middle age.

Explore Wawel Royal Castle, one of Poland’s most important cultural sites, the largest medieval square, Rynek, and tour Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter.

Just a few minutes away from Krakow, save the last day for a tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau – which can be emotionally draining, but full of remarkable stories that deserve to be remembered.

• Krakow tours

See also: Things to do in Krakow

36 – Pisa, Italy

Worldwide famous for the leaning tower and for being the birthplace of Galileo Galilei, Pisa is an excellent destination for a weekend getaway.

The city’s highlight is Piazza dei Miracoli, where it’s possible to explore the main landmarks – the Pisa Cathedral, Pisa Baptistry, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It’s also worth strolling through the River Arno, walking along the shopping street, Borgo Stretto, and checking Pisa’s second main square, Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Save at least one full day to explore the surrounding area and make the most of your Tuscany trip, admiring the Renaissance city walls of Luca, the modern Livorno, by the Ligurian Sea, or the enchanting Florence.

See also: Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets , Things to do in Pisa

37 – Malaga, Spain

In the sunny Spanish Costa del Sol, showing the best Andalusia has to offer, Malaga mixes paradisiac beaches, diverse museums, vibrant nightlife and delicious tapas.

With a rich history, explore the Alcazaba and marvel at the views from the ancient Gibralfaro Castle.

The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, find plenty of its wonderful works at the Picasso Museum or join a walking tour and pass across the artist’s childhood home.

Sunbathe at the best Mediterranean beaches, from the famous Playa la Malagueta to the less crowded Playa Peñon del Cuervo.

• Malaga tours

See also: Things to do in Malaga

38 – Bran Castle, Romania

One of Europe’s most famous castles, perched atop a hill, the Bran Castle is commonly known as Dracula’s home.

Built during the 12th century at Transylvania and Wallachia’s border, used for defensive purposes against the Ottoman Empire, providing safe passage between the regions and contributing to their economic development.

The site gained popularity for matching the castle described in Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, even though the Irish author never visited Romania.

Welcoming thousands of visitors per year, it houses a private museum dedicated to Queen Marie’s art and furniture collection, richly ornating the rooms.

• Transylvania tours

See also: Best castles in Europe

39 – Kravica Waterfall, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the large Kravica Waterfall by the Trebižat River is one of the country’s most precious jewels and best-kept secrets, with its popularity still rising.

Open from May to October, with 25 meters high, this is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the area has much more to offer, such as a peaceful picnic area and a small cafe.

During the hottest months, the best part of the visit is diving into the lake’s clear waters. There are kayaking tours through the river available for those wanting to explore a little more.

40 – Keukenhof gardens, Netherlands

The world’s most extensive flower garden, the Keukenhof is one of the best places to visit in Europe during the spring and witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing 7 million tulips bloom.

Rent a bike and pedal around the park or take a relaxing boat tour, a visit to the Keukenhof gardens is also an excellent program for the whole family, let the kids join a scavenger hunt throughout the gardens or pet some furry friends at the petting zoo.

Attracting millions of visitors each year, the garden is easily reached from Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

See also: Keukenhof Gardens tickets price

41 – Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a dream destination with diverse architecture, from the gothic wonder of Church of Our Lady before Týn to the modern and creative Dancing House; outstanding museums, and vibrant nightlife.

Start with a walking tour to check the city’s main sites, from admiring the outstanding Old Town and seeing the famous Astronomical Clock, to the iconic Prague Castle.

Cross the Charles Bridge – possibly on a ghost tour, and learn at the various museums, from the Museum of Communism to the Apple Museum.

Immerse in the local culture and attend a Czech Folklore Show or get the time of your life at a locally-led pub crawl.

• Prague tours

See also: Things to do in Prague , Prague Castle tickets price , Prague free walking tours

42 – Athens, Greece

Overflowing with legends and stories from the Greek Empire, ranking among the sunniest cities in Europe, Athens’s rich history mixed with modernity makes it a complex and extraordinary destination.

Explore the main historical landmarks, such as the iconic Acropolis – and climb there for the city’s best views; marvel at the Parthenon temple’s architecture and visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

After checking all monuments and museums, relax by the white sand beaches at Athens Riviera, or consider a day trip to make the most of this Greek adventure.

• Athens tours

See also: Things to do in Athens , Best tourist attractions in Athens , Best day trips from Athens , Acropolis tickets price

43 – Versailles, France

Formerly a royal residence, the magnificent Versailles Palace is one of the world’s most visited palaces nowadays and can be easily reached from Paris.

Several tickets are available, some of which also include the Estate of Trianon, Versailles Gardens, and even the musical fountain show, to make the most of the visit – and if the tickets are sold out, check how to grant last-minute Versailles Palace tickets !

With a massive area and over 2000 rooms, it might be worth considering a guided tour to understand its history. One of the palace’s highlights is the Hall of Mirrors, with 357 mirrors.

• Versailles tours

See also: Versailles tickets price , Best Versailles tours , Best places to visit in France

44 – Porto, Portugal

Often considered one of the best European destinations, Porto has outstanding beauty mixed with delicious gastronomy and incredible nightlife.

Explore the old town and its iconic landmarks, from the Sé do Porto Cathedral to the colorful Largo da Pena Ventosa square, and the spectacular views from Miradouro da Vitória.

While in Porto, one can’t overlook the chance to taste one of the world’s most famous wines, the delicious Francesinha, and catch a fado show.

There are plenty of fun things to do in Porto, from observing the inspiration behind Harry Potter at Gomes Teixeira Square to the fantastic Douro Valley cruises, or exciting day trips to the Peneda-Gerês National Park and the Minho region.

• Porto tours

See also: Things to do in Porto

45 – Stockholm, Sweden

A small city where the land meets the sea, with a rich Viking history, exciting music scene, and plenty of islands to explore on a kayaking trip, Stockholm is an excellent destination for a quick city break.

Admire artifacts at the Royal Palace and wander around the colorful Gamla Stan – which translates to Old Town.

To get deeper into the city’s history, visit the 17th-century warship at Vasa Museum. With the Vikings being one of Sweden’s most famous ancestors, several tours pass through the most important sites, such as the ancient settlement of Granby.

Delight in modern Swedish cuisine and enjoy Stockholm’s nightlife, whether it is by catching a show at Avicii Arena, seeing a ballet at Royal Swedish Opera, or joining a pub crawl.

• Stockholm tours

See also: Things to do in Stockholm

46 – Riga, Latvia

Riga is the liveliest among the capitals, with outstanding Art Nouveau architecture, exuberant nightlife, and stunning landscapes.

Stroll around the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with most of Riga’s monuments, such as the iconic House of the Blackheads, the St. Peter’s Church, or the Central Market.

Learn about the Latvian War of Independence at Freedom Monument, and get transported back to Medieval times at the Swedish Gate.

Try some Riga Black Balsam – made from pure vodka – and party at the many pubs and bars.

See also: Things to do in Riga

47 – Granada, Spain

Granada is an excellent choice for a city break: one of the most iconic Andalusian destinations, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beautiful Islamic architecture, delicious tapas, and exciting flamenco shows.

Perched atop a hill, find the impressive Alhambra fortress and marvel at the views from the Alcazaba Tower. There are plenty of Alhambra tickets available, some of which also combine the visit to Generalife.

Check the Royal Chapel of Granada, explore the unique Albaicín district, and explore the Moorish-styled Alcaicería. For a remarkable sunset, stop by San Nicolas Viewpoint.

With a rich Arab heritage, save some time to relax at a traditional hammam spa or tour the best-preserved Arab baths at El Bañuelo.

• Granada tours

See also: Things to do in Granada , Alhambra tickets price

48 – Kiruna, Sweden

As the northernmost city in Sweden, Kiruna is well-situated for all of your Arctic adventures. Whether you’re journeying here to witness the aurora borealis or stay the night in the famous Ice Hotel, Kiruna will expand your horizons.

Head to the Abisko National Park and immerse yourself in the alpine landscape. Here, you can watch the northern lights come out, go hiking or practice your photographic skills.

For a classic Swedish experience, put on your snowsuit and go dog sledding! Keep your camera on hand to capture the once-in-a-lifetime ride. This is one activity the kids won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for more of an adrenaline rush, you can traverse the terrain on a snowmobile.

To get a taste of local culture, you can join a city tour that includes dining out on street food. Savor the Arctic cheese and reindeer and moose meat in a traditional tipi!

• Kiruna tours

See also: Things to do in Kiruna

49 – Frankfurt, Germany

Once among the most significant medieval cities in Germany, most of Frankfurt was destroyed during the Second World War. Nowadays, it perfectly blends modernity and history, with an impressive skyline, rich museums, the Goethe-Haus, and Anne Frank’s first home.

Look out for the city’s oldest building, the 15th-century medieval Eschenheim Tower, contrasting with Financial District’s opulent skyscrapers – where the city gets its Mainhattan nickname from.

Explore the lively Römerberg and soak in the views from the top of the Frankfurt Cathedral observation tower. Cross the Eiserner Steg bridge and stroll through the scenic Mainkai walk while marveling at the Main river.

Famous for its sausages, stop by Kleinmarkthalle to grab a traditional wurst at Metzgerei Schreiber, and accompany it with some apple wine.

• Frankfurt tours

See also: Things to do in Frankfurt

50 – Capri, Italy

Located in the Gulf of Naples, with an outstanding landscape and delicious cuisine, there’s a lot to explore in Capri.

Check the world-famous Piazzetta di Capri, the island’s center and its liveliest area, and try some ravioli capresi at the local restaurants.

Book a boat tour in Capri and adventure on its stunning turquoise waters and marvel at the Arco Naturale and Blue Gotto. Relax by the Gardens of Augustus and admire its views.

Visit the dreamy Villa San Michele and, of course, sunbathe at Capri’s best beaches such as Marina Grande, the best one for swimming, and the famous Bagni di Tiberio.

• Capri tours

See also: Best boat tours in Capri

51 – Greek Islands

From the worldwide famous dreamy white villages of Santorini to the unique pink sand of Elafonisi Beach in Crete, the Greek Islands are a piece of heaven in the Mediterranean and definitely worth visiting.

In Crete, the largest of the islands, stroll around the Venetian Harbour and explore Chania ’s lovely Old Town, sunbathe in Falasarna, and marvel at the historical Knossos Palace.

Continuing to one of the finest islands in the Aegean Sea, Rhodes, explore the ancient ruins of Lindos Acropolis, snorkel in secluded coves, and wonder at the natural reserve of the Butterflies Valley.

Home of Hippocrates, Kos has a rich history and unique landscapes to explore. Continue with Mykonos with a lovely old town and vibrant nightlife, making it one of the best greek islands for partying.

With jaw-dropping turquoise waters, stop by Porto Timoni Beach in Corfu, snorkel in one of the finest Blue Lagoons in the world, and visit the distinctive Cape Dastris cliffs.

On the best European island for a honeymoon, the charming Santorini, watch the most romantic sunsets at Oia and swim at the unique Red Beach with volcanic red sand.

And of course, there’s much more to explore, considering Greece has over 200 islands. Enjoy the dreamiest beaches, embrace its rich history and try the delicious Mediterranean cuisine.

See also: Things to do in Rhodes , Things to do in Kos , Things to do in Santorini , Things to do in Crete , Things to do in Corfu , Things to do in Mykonos , Things to do in Paros , Things to do in Naxos

52 – Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatia’s oldest and largest natural park, with almost 300 km², Plitvice Lakes, is one of the best places to visit in Europe and among its most extraordinary natural wonders.

Its primary attraction is the crystal clear lakes, which only cover 1% of this enormous park. With a total of 16 main lakes connected through stunning waterfalls, even though they look enchanting, swimming is prohibited.

With incredible fauna and flora to admire, adventure on the park’s hiking trails, or rent a boat and row in Kozjak lake. The park turns into a white wonderland during the winter, and skiing is among the most popular activities.

• Plitvice Lake tours

53 – Seville, Spain

Among the most famous cities of Andalusia, with world-famous flamenco shows, glorious architecture, and delicious tapas, the sunkissed Seville is filled with fun things to do.

With Christian and Moorish influences, explore the stunning Real Alcázar of Seville, and continue to the Seville Cathedral & La Giralda, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.

Climb to the unique Setas de Sevilla and rent a rowboat at Plaza de Plaza de España. And for the Game of Thrones fans, there are a couple of filming locations to visit.

To make the most of your trip, there are plenty of day trips available, from the historical Italica, the natural wonder of Doñana National Park, the unique city of Ronda, to the paradise beaches at Zahara de los Atunes.

• Seville tours

See also: Things to do in Seville , Best day trips from Seville , Real Alcazar of Seville tickets price

54 – Belgrade, Serbia

World-famous for its vibrant nightlife and parties, Belgrade has something for everyone – from spectacular galleries and architecture to the bustling streets and best bars.

Visit Belgrade’s largest park, Kalemegdan, and find the old citadel at the Belgrade Fortress. Admire Serbia’s major Orthodox Church, the Church of St Sava, and stop by the Nikola Tesla Museum.

After absorbing all of the city’s rich and turbulent history, embrace its reputable nightlife, with great indoor clubs and taverns during the cold months, and riverside venues for the warm months.

• Belgrade tours

See also: Things to do in Belgrade

55 – Trolltunga, Norway

Translated to “troll tongue”, Norway’s most famous rock formation and one of the most photographed in the world, Trolltunga, is perched on the side of a fjord, over 1000 meters above the sea.

The 14 km hike starts by the Ringedalsvatnet lake and takes about 8-12 hours, depending on the experience level. Despite the challenging trail, take the time to enjoy the journey and marvel at the breathtaking Norwegian landscape.

56 – Ibiza, Spain

A Spanish oasis in the Mediterranean, the island of Ibiza is one of the best places to visit in Europe during the summer months.

With an outstanding coastline, take a boat tour and cool down by the island’s incredible beaches, from Cala Comte, the most famous one, the calm turquoise waters of Cala Bassa, to the hippie vibe of Cala Benirràs.

Wander around the fortified Old Town, with labyrinth streets and the best views over the harbor.

And what most visitors come from: go party – from plenty of boat and pool parties to join, to the world’s most famous beach clubs and the best party venues, there’s always fun granted in Ibiza.

• Ibiza tours

See also: Things to do in Ibiza

57 – Geneva, Switzerland

Near the French border, the city of Geneva is the headquarters of the United Nations in Europe, with the impressive Palais des Nations.

Explore the charming Old Town, see the Flower Clock at the lovely Jardin Anglais and visit the city’s incredible museums such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.

By the margin of Geneva Lake, admire one of the world’s tallest water fountains, Jet d’Eau, and explore the lake and the surrounding cities on a boat tour.

And while in Switzerland, taste as much chocolate as possible!

• Geneva tours

See also: Things to do in Geneva

58 – Sofia, Bulgaria

Less touristy than the nearby European capitals, Sofia is famous for the massive Saint Alexander Nevsky Patriarch’s Cathedral, the royal Vrana Palace, and the 10th-century Boyana Church.

Stroll through the pedestrian Pirotska Street, stop by its excellent shops and cafes, or grab a souvenir at the Central Market Hall.

Catch a worldwide famous folklore show or a performance at the Sofia Opera and Ballet, and embrace the city’s lively nightlife.

• Sofia tours

See also: Things to do in Sofia

59 – Ljubjana, Slovenia

The charming capital of Slovenia by the margin of the Ljubljanica River, one of Ljubljana’s most iconic attractions is the Ljubljana Castle perched atop a hill, in the middle of the city.

Cross the Dragon Bridge – with the dragon being the city’s symbol and protector – explore the beautiful Old Town, with the lively Prešeren Square, ​and finish by relaxing at the large Tivoli Park.

For some alternative activities, stop by the Metelkova Art Center, the city’s cultural and artistic hub, with performances, exhibitions, and a lot of incredible street art.

• Ljubljana tours

See also: Things to do in Ljubljana

60 – Copenhagen, Denmark

Famous for being Hans Christian Andersen’s birthplace and the little mermaid sculpture, this small Scandinavian city has a lot to offer to its visitors.

With magnificent Danish cuisine and the famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park, Copenhagen attracts visitors worldwide.

Shop at Strøget, Europe’s largest pedestrian streets, wander around the city’s Old Town, and admire Nyhavn’s colorful architecture through a canal cruise.

Delve into Copenhagen’s rich history and culture with a visit to Christiansborg Palace and the many museums – such as the National Museum of Denmark.

• Copenhagen tours

See also: Things to do in Copenhagen

61 – Mont Saint Michel, France

Easily reached on a day trip from Paris to Normandy, the magnificent Mont Saint Michel is one of France’s most remarkable medieval gems.

Welcoming pilgrims since the 8th century, this small island with the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel perched at the top is one of the most unique places to visit in Europe.

Take the time to explore the medieval village, admire the ancient defense walls and climb to the North Tower observation deck, for an outstanding view of the bay.

• Normandy tours

See also: Best Normandy tours from Paris , Mont Saint Michel Day Trip from Paris – Price & Tips

62 – Helsinki, Finland

By the shore of the Gulf of Finland, the charming Helsinki delights those who visit it with stunning sea landscapes, landmarks and delicious Nordic cuisine.

Take the ferry to one of the world’s largest sea fortresses, Suomenlinna, once a substantial naval base. Today, not only one of Finland’s most fantastic attractions but also home to 900 inhabitants.

With a great diversity of attractions, visit Temppeliaukio Church, an ancient church carved into a rock, the 19th century Helsinki Cathedral and the orthodox Uspenski Cathedral.

Explore the city’s interesting museums, from the art pieces at Kiasma and Ateneum to the Design Museum. Save also some time to grab a souvenir at Helsinki’s Market Square or get the adrenaline rushing at Linnanmäki amusement park.

• Helsinki tours

See also: Things to do in Helsinki

63 – The Blue Eye, Albania

The Blue Eye, a natural water spring pool, source to the Bistricë River, is one of the most unique places to visit in Albania.

Easily reached upon a 35-minute drive from the city of Sarandë, the Blue Eye dazzles everyone with its turquoise crystal clear waters, surrounded by a dense forest.

Divers have explored at least 50 meters, but its total depth is still uncertain. Even though swimming in these mysterious waters is prohibited, marvel at this incredible natural phenomenon and watch the bubbles rising to the surface.

• Sarandë tours

Read more: Most Beautiful Places in Europe

64 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Famous for its iconic castle perched atop a hill and the medieval old town, Edinburgh’s culture-rich city and artistic is one of the most incredible places to visit in the UK.

Enjoy the best panoramic views from Calton Hill or hike the 2.4-mile trail through the ancient volcano up to Arthur’s Seat.

Explore the city’s greatest museums, such as the National Museum or the National Galleries of Scotland, and visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the former residence of Scotland’s queens.

There are plenty of fun things to do in Edinburgh, from visiting some of Outlander’s filming locations, to taking this opportunity to explore more of Scotland’s beauty, with a day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands.

• Edinburgh tours

See also: Things to do in Edinburgh , Best day trips from Edinburgh , Edinburgh Castle tickets price , Palace of Holyroodhouse tickets price

65 – Bratislava, Slovakia

Not the typical European capital, easily visited in one weekend, the lovely Bratislava offers plenty of significant landmarks to explore.

Explore the city’s charming Old Town, cross the Michael’s Gate and visit the fairy-tale Bratislava Castle.

Admire the art nouveau of The Blue Church, admire the views from the historical Devín Castle and stroll through Bratislava’s best museums.

Save also some time to soak in the local culture, from catching a play at Slovak National Theatre to trying the city’s best cafes and lively bars.

• Bratislava tours

See also: Things to do in Bratislava

66 – Mycenae, Greece

Located in eastern Peloponnese, Mycenae, what was once one of the Greek civilization’s major centers, is today one of Greece’s most important archaeological sites.

Quickly visited on a day trip from Athens, with buses running between the two cities, explore the kingdom of the legendary Agamemnon, commander of the Greek forces in the Trojan War.

Cross the famous Lion Gate, the entrance to the fortified town, and visit the Treasury of Atreus, where it’s allegedly the tomb of Agamemnon.

Also, stop by the Archaeological Museum and marvel at the impressive exhibits and artifacts excavated at the site.

• Peloponnese tours

67 – Salzburg, Austria

A worldwide famous music center, from the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the internationally acclaimed annual Salzburg Festival and the greatest operas and orchestral concerts, Salzburg is one of the best cities to visit in Austria.

Relive the iconic Sound of Music with several tours passing through the movie’s filming locations – including tours departing from Vienna and Munich, if you’re only planning to take a day trip.

While in the city, explore one of Europe’s biggest medieval castles, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, wander around Mirabell Palace’s gardens, and admire most of the city’s landmarks at the Old Town, including Salzburg Cathedral and the lively Getreidegasse shopping street.

• Salzburg tours

See also: Things to do in Salzburg , Best Sound of Music tours in Salzburg

68 – Rhine Falls, Switzerland

The largest waterfall in Europe, the massive Rhine Falls are one of the best places to visit in Switzerland, located on the border between Schaffhausen and Zurich.

A great attraction all year round, but the true power of the Rhine Falls is visible during the summer, with the water impressively flowing at 600,000 liters per second.

Just 40 minutes away from Zurich, it’s an excellent destination for a day trip. Start by exploring the lovely villages by the river and marvel at nature’s beauty from the multiple viewing platforms.

For an even more memorable experience, consider taking a boat cruise if visiting between spring to fall.

69 – Oslo, Norway

Frequently overlooked compared to its neighbors, the city of Oslo deserves a place on every traveler’s bucket list, with plenty of fun activities available.

For the history lovers, stop by the Viking Ship Museum and wander around one of Norway’s most impressive Renaissance buildings, the Akershus Fortress.

For those looking for outdoor activities, join a Fjord sightseeing cruise and marvel at the unique landscape, adventure in some hiking in Nordmarka or go skiing at Oslo Winter Park.

Explore the charming Old Town and stop by the main shopping area, Karl Johan street. Tour the Aker Brygge neighborhood, catch a concert at the Oslo Opera House, or relax at a typical Scandinavian floating sauna.

See also: Things to do in Oslo

70 – Blue Lagoon, Iceland

One of Iceland’s most famous attractions, the unique Blue Lagoon, is the perfect way to relax on a day trip from Reykjavik – and multiple tours are available, making it very easy to access.

With a unique milky blue shade (due to the high silica concentration in the water), this insta-worthy destination is a great option all year round, with an average temperature of 39 °C at the geothermal pools.

Just remember to book the tickets in advance, considering its broad popularity.

See also: Things to do in Reykjavik , Best day trips from Reykjavik

71 – Corsica, France

Immediately located above Sardinia , perfectly mixing French and Italian culture, bathed by the warm Mediterranean waters, the island of Corsica is a great European destination for the summer months.

With Corsica’s stunning sandy beaches with crystal clear water, spend the holidays sunbathing and relaxing at the famous Porto-Vecchio or the secret Petit Sperone Beach.

Explore the rich underwater fauna and flora on a diving or snorkeling tour; and adventure through the Bavella Needles or the epic GR20 hiking trail and marvel at Corsica’s landscape.

Take the time to stroll through Bastia Old Harbor, visit the lovely villages of La Balagne, Pigna or Sant’ Antonino, and delight with the best Mediterranean food, it’ll surely be an unforgettable trip.

• Corsica tours

See also: Things to do in Corsica , Best boat tours in Corsica , Best islands to visit in Europe during Summer

72 – Canyon Matka, Republic of Macedonia

Less than a 30-minute drive from Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, the impressive Canyon Matka is a popular day/half day trip for locals and tourists alike.

Covering about 5.000 hectares, this unique nature getaway offers plenty of outdoor activities, from renting a kayak to taking a boat tour.

Despite the unique landscape, one curiosity about this place is it holds Macedonia’s oldest artificial lake, made in 1938.

With several medieval monasteries and 10 caves, including Vrelo Cave, one of Europe’s deepest underwater caves, it’s one of the best places to visit in Southeast Europe.

73 – Belfast, United Kingdom

The largest city in Northern Ireland and its capital, Belfast, is famous worldwide for being where the RMS Titanic was built.

The Titanic legacy is still solid these days; take this opportunity to learn more about its history at the Titanic Belfast museum and explore the Titanic Quarter.

Just one hour from Belfast lies the Dark Hedges, one of Game of Thrones’ most iconic filming locations. Consider also combining it with a trip to the unique Giant’s Causeway.

During the weekends, stop by the St. George’s Market to taste some local specialties, and don’t forget to visit Belfast Castle.

• Belfast tours

See also: Things to do in Belfast

74 – Palermo, Italy

The lively city of Palermo, in the heart of the Mediterranean, has so many Palaces, churches and landmarks to explore, no wonder why it’s one of Italy’s major cultural hubs.

Start by the iconic Cathedral of Palermo and explore its complex history, then climb to the rooftop for a bird-eye view of the whole city.

Continue to the 9th century Norman Palace and admire the impressive details of the Palatine Chapel, mixing Greek, Arabic and Latin styles, and exhibiting majestic mosaics.

Sunbathe in the best white sand beaches in Sicily, from the famous Mondello Beach to the natural reserve of Isola delle Femmine.

Make the most of your trip with a day tour from Palermo, and explore the remarkable Valley of the Temples, the ruins of Segesta and Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.

• Palermo tours

See also: Things to do in Palermo , Things to do in Sicily

75 – Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is a city of contrasts, from the Warsaw Barbican, one of the remaining historic fortifications, to the views from the 30th-floor terrace at the Palace of Culture and Science; it perfectly blends the past with the modern days.

Explore the colorful Old Town, one of the main historical attractions, have a glimpse of the Polish monarch’s lives both at the Royal Castle and Wilanów Palace.

Delve into the city’s history at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, catch a show at Grand Theatre, one of the most famous opera houses in Europe and embrace Warsaw’s lively nightlife on a Polish vodka tour.

• Warsaw tours

See also: Things to do in Warsaw

76 – Vienna, Austria

Once the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Vienna is still Austria’s most populated city and one of the best summer destinations in Europe, with plenty of festivals and outdoor activities.

Famous for its ties to Mozart and Beethoven, Vienna is often referred to as the city of music; take this opportunity to catch a classical concert at Peterskirche, Eschenbach Palace, or Musikverein.

Among the most popular landmarks in Vienna is the Schönbrunn Palace, filled with history and immense gardens to explore. Other palaces worth visiting are the Hofburg Imperial Palace, currently home to Austria’s president, and Belvedere Palace, with an impressive art collection.

To absorb all of Vienna’s rich history, consider joining a free walking tour, led by local guides. But don’t overlook the rest of Austria’s wonders, and save some time for a day trip – whether it is to Wachau Valley or Lake Neusiedl, this country won’t disappoint.

• Vienna tours

See also: Things to do in Vienna , Best day trips from Vienna , Vienna free walking tours

77 – Golden Horn Beach, Croatia

Located in Brac Island, even though not as famous as Hvar and Korčula, lies one of the best beaches in Croatia, the Golden Horn Beach – locally known as Zlatni Rat or Rat Beach.

Bathed by the Adriatic Sea, the stunning white sand beach got its name from the peninsula’s unique arrow-shaped formation of sand, and its crystal clear waters promise to marvel anyone who visits it.

Easily reached on a day trip from Split, this paradisiac beach is the perfect place to sunbathe, scuba dive, and try many watersports such as jetski or windsurfing.

See also: Things to do in Split , Best day trips from Split

78 – Lyon, France

When people think about French destinations, Lyon is not often what comes to mind, but there are plenty of reasons to visit it, from the world-class gastronomy to its architecture and landmarks.

The Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, Lyon’s first indoor market, is a mandatory stop for the foodies. Along with St. Antoine Market and La Croix Rousse Market, there’s no shortage of delicious local meals to try.

In the heart of Lyon, stop by the impressive Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste to marvel at the Gothic architecture, and take a walking tour around the Vieux Lyon District.

For those visiting during the summer, catch the Nuits de Fourvière, an arts and music festival at the Roman theaters, that promises an unforgettable experience.

See also: Things to do in Lyon

79 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

When it comes to places to visit in Europe, the Balkans are still gaining popularity, but Sarajevo deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list.

While exploring this budget-friendly European destination, stop by the Baščaršija historical market, admire the 16th century Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque ​and soak in the views from the Yellow Bastion.

However, Sarajevo requires a historical context to understand better the city, with the siege of Sarajevo, the longest in modern warfare, still so recent (1992-1996).

Visit the Sarajevo Tunnel, also known as Tunnel of Hope, built during the siege to allow food, supplies, and humanitarian aid into the city; and check the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Sarajevo tours

See also: Things to do in Sarajevo

80 – Bordeaux, France

Worldwide famous for its vineyards, the cosmopolitan city of Bordeaux is one of the best places to visit in Europe for wine lovers.

After checking La Cité du Vin, embrace the city’s rich cultural heritage, from the Roman Palais Gallien to the Medieval Gates; gothic cathedrals among baroque palaces and more historical monuments than one can count.

Stroll through the iconic Place de la Bourse square, check Bordeaux’s remarkable museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the oldest one, and catch a performance at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux.

Explore historical chateaux during the day and, for the ultimate fairytale experience, consider spending the night in a castle.

• Bordeaux tours

See also: Things to do in Bordeaux

81 – Madeira, Portugal

Worldwide famous for Cristiano Ronaldo’s home, the subtropical island of Madeira is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Europe.

Along the African coast, with warm temperatures during the entire year, this is one of the best places to explore rainforests, hike, and enjoy a getaway in nature.

From the Vereda do Areeiro trail, the glass bottom Cabo Girão viewpoint, or watching the sunrise at Pico Ruivo, every spot offers a more breathtaking view than the other.

After all the hiking, cool off at the unique Porto Moniz’s volcanic swimming pools, with crystal clear waters, while marveling at the Atlantic ocean.

Try the Monte Sledge toboggan ride, one of Madeira’s most unique and fun attractions, sliding down the streets on a basket; admire the traditional Santana houses and drink the famous Poncha.

• Madeira tours

See also: Things to do in Madeira

82 – Alps

Europe’s most extensive mountain range, stretching through 8 countries, from France to Slovenia, the Alps are worth visiting for its unique landscape, from crystal clear lakes to dramatic mountains.

In the Italian Alps, one of the most popular attractions is the Dolomites, with the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo and its 10 km loop trail, or the beautiful Lago di Braies.

The alps’ higher mountain, Mont Blanc, can be found in the French Alps. The charming Chamonix village, surrounded by mountains, is the place for those looking for a relaxing getaway – and home to one of the best ski resorts in Europe for those looking for a bit of adrenaline.

From hiking to winter sports, the cherry on top of a trip to the Swiss Alps is the scenic Glacier Express 8h ride, from Zermatt to St. Moritz. The unforgettable panoramic train ride is the most comfortable way to travel across the alps and admire its landscape.

In Germany, the Alps can be seen in the Bavaria region, and the best place to admire its higher peak is by the Eibsee lake. The obvious choice to admire the Julian Alps in Slovenia is Lake Bled, but the trails at Triglav National Park are also worth exploring.

The Alps can also be visited in Austria, Monaco and Liechtenstein; choose from skiing and snowboarding to hiking or just relaxing surrounded by nature, and there’s the recipe for a memorable trip.

83 – Vilnius, Lithuania

Charming Lithuania’s capital, filled with history and a strong Jew heritage, Vilnius was once Europe’s largest Jewish center. Consider starting with a free walking tour around the Old Town and Jewish Quarter or the artistic district of Užupis.

Check the 15th century St. Anne’s Church, with its stunning Flamboyant Gothic style, and climb to the Three Crosses Monument for the city’s best views.

There’s plenty to learn about Vilnius’ rich history for those into museums, from the dark Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, built in a former KGB headquarters (with a prison where death penalties were executed), to the exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Centre.

• Vilnius tours

See also: Things to do in Vilnius

84 – Stonehenge, United Kingdom

The prehistoric Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and easily reached on a day trip from London – taking about 2 hours.

Most of Stonehenge’s fame drifts from the fact that no one knows what those mysterious stones were used for, and there is no lack of theories, from astronomical studies to pagan ceremonies. Still, the most likely one is that it once was a burial ground.

Welcoming millions of visitors per year, the best time to visit it (for fewer crowds) is during weekdays and either in the early morning or sunset.

See also: Stonehenge tours from London

85 – Postojna Cave, Slovenia

What says “once in a lifetime experience” more than taking an underground train through a karst cave in Slovenia?

With millions of years of history, carved by the Pivka River, the Postojna Cave is one of Slovenia’s most beautiful natural wonders and lies 46km from Ljubljana.

Save an hour and a half for the cave tours, including the cave presentation by a local guide and the train ride. The tours are also wheelchair accessible and suitable for all kinds of ages.

After marveling at the cave’s 24 km of underground passages and massive halls, accompanied by the magical sound of the water dripping from the stalactites, stop by the world’s largest cave castle, the medieval Predjama Castle.

86 – Budapest, Hungary

With the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest is one of the most photogenic cities in Europe, and a great budget-friendly capital to visit.

Start in the Buda side, exploring the historic Buda Castle, and continue to Fisherman’s Bastion, by the stunning Matthias Church, with the best views over the river and the city.

Cross the Széchenyi Chain Bridge to the Pest side of the river, stop by the Shoes on the Danube Bank and join a free walking tour through the Jewish Quarter.

With rich mineral waters, a trip to Budapest wouldn’t be complete without trying the famous thermal baths, such as Széchenyi or Gellért.

After recharging the energies, consider taking a day trip to the lovely little town by the Danube Bend, Szentendre, or the largest lake in central Europe, Lake Balaton.

• Budapest tours

See also: Things to do in Budapest , Best day trips from Budapest , Hungarian Parliament tickets price , Budapest free walking tours

87 – Isle of Man

Between England and Ireland, the small Isle of Man, bathed by the Irish sea, inhabited since 6500 BC, has plenty of history to discover and fun things to do.

The Manx Museum is a must for museum lovers, with unique artifacts from the Island’s Celtic and Viking past.

Delve into Isle of Man’s history at one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world, Castle Rushen, and consider checking the Peel Castle as well, built by the Vikings.

Sports fans? Plan the trip during The Isle of Man TT, for one of the world’s most thrilling motorcycle races.

And for those looking for a getaway among nature, climb the Snaefell Mountain or walk to the Fairy Bridge. The Isle of Man has something for every kind of traveler.

88 – Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Welcoming about 1.5 million visitors per year, the Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most impressive attractions in Germany, easily reached on a day trip from Munich.

Commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, the castle looks straight from a Disney movie. In fact, the resemblances are not a coincidence, as it served as inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Considered one of the most photographed buildings in the world, check the many viewpoints and get the best shots of it – including the famous shot of the castle atop of the hill, from the Queen Mary’s Bridge, also known as Marienbrücke.

Even though it’s not allowed to photograph inside the castle, it’s also worth taking a tour and exploring its magnificent rooms. Remember to book the tickets in advance, especially if you’re planning to visit during the high season.

See also: Neuschwanstein Castle tickets price

89 – Durmitor, Montenegro

Montenegro is still a hidden gem compared to other European countries, but the Durmitor National Park is a pretty solid reason for it to be added to everyone’s bucket list.

Home to Europe’s largest and deepest canyon, go rafting in the Tara River, or cross the 365m Đurđevića Tara Bridge and admire this green oasis ready to be explored, standing 170m above the ground.

Take the trail to Bobotov Kuk and admire Montenegro’s highest peak views, or check the 18 glacial lakes spread through the park.

The Durmitor National Park is also perfect for some canyoning, mountain biking, or simply enjoying a relaxing nature retreat with a picnic by the lake.

Consider the 1 km zip line at Extreme Zipline Tara, for those looking for some extra adrenaline, reaching a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

90 – Malta & Gozo

A tiny archipelago bathed by the Mediterranean, Malta is located between Sicily and Tunisia, with warm temperatures during the entire year, making it worth visiting even in December for a warm winter break.

Perfectly blending culture with outdoor adventures, visit the Megalithic Temples of Malta, built by the Neolithic inhabitants and among the oldest temples in the world.

Walk along the city walls of the sunny capital, Valletta, admire the interior of the 16th century St. John’s Cathedral, and look out for some Game of Throne’s filming locations around the island.

Get away from the tourist crowds and admire Mdina’s old streets, swim in the crystal clear waters of the Blue Grotto in Qrendi or the St. Peter’s Pool in Marsaxlokk, and take the whole family to Popeye Village.

Off the main island, stop by Gozo to explore its Ancient Cittadella and marvel at the dramatic coastal formations in Dwejra; or snorkel in Comino’s blue lagoon.

• Malta tours

See also: Things to do in Malta , Best boat tours in Malta & Gozo

91 – Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Moving on to the land of fire and ice, encompassing Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull, the Vatnajökull National Park is a destination for the adventurous.

From hiking to snowmobiling or even kayaking in a glacier, Vatnajökull National Park is a paradise for outdoor lovers and promises a memorable trip.

For those visiting during wintertime, explore the park’s impressive Ice Caves (that melt during the spring).

See also: Best things to do in Iceland

92 – Tallinn, Estonia

The charming capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is the country’s major industrial, cultural and financial hub, mixed with a rich history, beautiful architecture and stunning landscapes, making it one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe.

Start by exploring the Old Town, one of the world’s best-preserved medieval towns, stroll through its cobblestone streets and try the local restaurants and coffee shops.

From the orthodox Alexandre Nevsky Cathedral, built in a magnificent Russian Revival style, to the historical Toompea Castle, currently housing Estonia’s parliament, most of the attractions can be found in the city’s center.

To explore its surroundings, visit the Kadriorg Palace, built in the massive 70 hectares, Kadriorg Park; or climb to the 21st-floor observation deck at Tallinn TV Tower.

During the summer, when the days get longer, and the pop-up bars start to appear, relax by the coast with a drink in your hand.

• Tallinn tours

See also: Things to do in Tallinn

93 – Brighton, United Kingdom

With the nickname of London-by-the-Sea, just one hour away from London and with a stunning coastline, the popularity of Brighton among the Londoners spread through the whole world, and the city became famous for its culture, artsy vibe and lively entertainment.

Get a panoramic view 140 meters above the ground from the British Airways i360, enjoy the sun at the Brighton Palace Pier, or learn about the city’s history at the fabulous Royal Pavilion.

With more independent shops than one can count, from the best boutiques to vintage stores, explore the Brighton Open Market and the iconic North Laine to grab a souvenir and satisfy your shopaholic side.

• Brighton tours

See also: Things to do in Brighton

94 – Þingvellir National Park, Iceland

Also known as Thingvellir National Park, this UNESCO World Heritage site is the ultimate Icelandic experience, filled with natural wonders.

Home to one of the best places to scuba dive in the world, and the only one where it’s possible to swim between two tectonic plates, the Silfra fissure. Or walk between them at Almannagja.

Take also some time to hike through the park’s multiple trails, admiring the park’s landscape, especially to Öxarárfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s main attractions, or check the horseback riding trails.

For history lovers, theÞingvellir National Park is also home to the world’s oldest parliaments, Althing, founded in 930.

95 – Champagne, France

Also known as the Champagne wine region, this historical province is famous worldwide for its champagne production. The Champagne Trail is the best way to introduce wine enthusiasts to the most prestigious certified wineries.

The best time to visit the Champagne is between April and October, with the busiest season in September, when the grapes are harvested. Take the time to tour vineyards, and don’t overlook the smallest houses for a more authentic and personal experience.

But the region has much more to offer besides tasting the best sparkling white wine in the world. Stop by Reims Cathedral and visit the place where French kings were crowned or visit the Archbishop of Reims’ palace, Palace of Tau.

• Champagne tours

96 – Zurich, Switzerland

Even though it’s considered one of Europe’s most expensive cities, Zürich has a unique charm, with colorful architecture perfectly bending with the lake to create one unforgettable scenery.

Travel back to the medieval times at the Old Town and delve into Switzerland’s finest museums, from the FIFA World Football Museum for the sport’s lovers to the unique Beyer Clock and Watch Museum.

Admire the mountains aboard the Funicular Rigiblick or take a boat tour around the moon-shaped Lake Zürich.

And to enjoy the trip to its fullest, consider taking a day trip, with plenty of fun options available, from the mountain village of Grindelwald to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein, or even visiting one of Europe’s tiniest countries, Liechtenstein.

• Zürich tours

See also: Things to do in Zurich , Best day trips from Zurich

97 – Verona, Italy

Among the most romantic destinations in Europe, Verona is one of the best places to visit for couples, from its picturesque streets and squares, such as Piazza delle Erbe, to the lovely views from Castel San Pietro.

Eternalized by Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet, several tours take you across the many iconic locations, from the famous balcony at Juliet’s house (La Casa di Giulietta) to Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore.

Tour the ancient Arena of Verona and, for a unique experience, visit during the summer opera festival.

Save some time for a day trip to the impressive Santuario Madonna della Corona, built by a cliff 2000 meters above the sea level, or the iconic Lake Garda.

• Verona tours

See also: Things to do in Verona

98 – Liverpool, United Kingdom

The Beatles’ famous hometown, start your Liverpool adventure at The Beatles Story museum, filled with history and objects, from clothes owned by the group to handwritten lyrics.

With one of the world’s most important trading ports, explore Royal Albert Dock, a former major trading center.

Admire the city’s outstanding architecture, from the Cathedral of the Risen Christ to the incredible buildings along the Pier Head. For the sports fans, check the Liverpool FC Museum and take a stadium tour.

Even though the show is set in Birmingham, Liverpool is actually home to plenty of Peaky Blinders filming locations, from Port Sunlight to Falkner Square.

With a lively and diverse nightlife, catch a show at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre or grab a drink at the historic Cavern Club; there’s always fun granted in the city.

• Liverpool tours

See also: Things to do in Liverpool

99 – Valencia, Spain

With a mild climate, futuristic architecture mixed with rich history, delicious food and lively ambiance, Valencia is one of the best places to visit in Europe all year round.

Home to one of Spain’s largest stadiums, sports lovers must include the Mestalla Stadium on their list – and maybe catch a Valencia Football Club’s game there.

Admire the outstanding design of the City of Arts and Sciences and visit Europe’s largest aquarium, Oceanografic. Consider combining the ticket with a visit to the Hemispheric or the Science Museum.

Take a walking tour around the Old Town, visit La Lonja de la Seda, one of the most iconic landmarks in Valencia and delve into the city’s history at the many museums, from the Museum of Fine Arts to the Ceramics Museum.

Taste local tapas at the Central Market, enjoy a fine dinner at Colón Market, and no trip to Valencia would be complete without trying the typical paella.

• Valencia tours

See also: Things to do in Valencia , Oceanografic Valencia tickets price

100 – Istanbul, Turkey

With a timeless combination of ancient and modern life, the bustling Istanbul is famous for being the bridge between Europe and Asia.

The main attractions are the Hagia Sophia, with marvelous Byzantine architecture; the Blue Mosque, with outstanding beauty and religious importance; and the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets; but there are countless sites to explore.

With European and Asian influences, Istanbul is a paradise for the foodies: from delicious street food to multiple restaurants and cafes to try.

Climb to the Rumelihisarı Fortress for the best views between the two continents, and take this opportunity to catch a ferry to Asia.

Just one hour’s flight away from Istanbul is the magical Cappadocia. Consider taking a day trip to see the fairy chimneys and fly aboard the world-famous hot air balloons.

• Istanbul tours

See also: Things to do in Istanbul , Cappadocia hot air balloon price , Best places to visit in Turkey

That’s it for the ultimate European bucket list. We hope you’ve enjoyed our selection of the best places to visit in Europe and let us know in the comments what your dream destinations are.

As always, happy travels!

10 cities that are perfect for your first trip to Europe

Europe is full of incredible cities (not to mention small towns and rural areas), so it can be hard to narrow down where you want to go, especially if it's your first time visiting the continent. Classic favorites like London and Paris still make for a great introduction to Europe, but sleeper hits like Vienna, Copenhagen and Istanbul can provide stunning and unusual experiences too.

The cities on this list all provide a good combination of history, architecture, art, culture, nature and regional food and are easy to navigate. They're all also connected by airlines, making it easy to fly from one to the other on points and miles . My main tip is to avoid cramming in too much on that first trip. You may only be able to hit one, two or three cities, but it will be a much better experience than squeezing in all 10. Trust me, you'll be back.

London, England

The capital of England is popular for a reason: Aside from being easy to navigate and having English as an official language, it's chock-full of must-see sites (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Tower of London among them), world-class museums (the Tate Modern, the British Museum, and the National Gallery, to name a few) and bars and restaurants to please any palate.

Walking along the Thames River (not to mention taking a boat on it) is an experience every traveler should have. Many museums in London are free but if you plan on visiting more than two of the paid attractions, the London Pass may be worthwhile. And, of course, all the major hotel brands with loyalty programs have multiple options in the city, making London a great destination for points users .

• How to fly to London for free using points and miles
• These are the best times to visit London
• Best London hotels to redeem points
• London hotel reviews: Hyatt's The Academy London , St. Ermin's Hotel , London Edition, Hyatt Regency London–The Churchill
• Best restaurants in London
• 16 kid-friendly things to do in London
• All about Heathrow Airport

Paris, France

Just a hop, skip and a Eurostar train ride from London, Paris is a must-visit and it's also a great city in which to use points and miles . Sample its café culture, stroll the Champs-Élysées, bring a baguette and cheese to one of its many idyllic parks and explore its neighborhoods (like Montmartre and Le Marais) by foot or bike.

Gawk at attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame , Arc de Triomphe and Sacré Coeur. Take in museums like the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Musee de l'Orangerie and the Centre Pompidou, as well as lesser-known ones like the Louis Braille Museum and the Museum of Fashion and Textiles.

Eat your fill of French delights like croissants and other pastries at Poilâne, gourmet chocolate and candy from Patrick Rodger and Jacques Genin, Breton crepes at BREIZH Café and Michelin-starred food at the likes of Le Cinq, Sylvestre, Septime and Saturne.

Like London, all the major hotel brands are here and there are some great deals to be had, especially at IHG brand Holiday Inn, which has several nicer-than-usual locations. Or splurge on a hotel like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme , because Paris knows how to do luxury.

• Maximizing points and miles to get to Paris
• Paris on points is possible -- here's where to stay
• Paris hotel reviews: Hotel Banke , Hyatt's Hotel du Louvre , W Paris–Opera, InterContinental Paris Le Grand , Prince de Galles , Maison Astor Paris
• 15 things to do on your first trip to Paris
• Paris for foodies
• Paris Charles de Gaulle vs. Orly: Which airport should you fly into?

Barcelona, Spain

Although it's not Spain's capital, Barcelona offers a funkier experience than Madrid — but the masses have discovered it, making it one of the most over-touristed destinations in the world. Nevertheless, it's one of Europe's best cities for first-timers, thanks to its fanciful architecture, tantalizing tapas and boisterous beach and nightlife scene. Just beware of tourist traps, not-so-great restaurants and long lines, especially on weekends.

Be sure to check out native son Antoni Gaudí's modern architectural masterpieces, including Sagrada Familia ( book tickets in advance!), Parc Güell and Casa Battló, as well as the medieval masterpieces in the Gothic Quarter.

Stroll the bustling Las Ramblas, eat your way through Mercat de la Boqueria and relax on Sant Sebastià Beach before tapas bar-hopping and pintxos sampling. Save room for dinner in one of the city's many lauded restaurants like Fismuler, Disfrutar, and Tickets and try to hit up some late-night bars. Hotels bookable with points and miles vary, so do your homework.

• Things only locals will tell you about Barcelona
• How to book a Barcelona hotel room for 4 on points
• Barcelona hotel reviews: Barcelona Edition , Cotton House Hotel, Vincci Bit
• What to do in Barcelona with kids

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

No, Amsterdam is not just a place to get stoned and gawk at prostitutes. Its charming canals, unique architecture, iconic art and design and tasty food (bitterbalen, stroopwafles, and Dutch fries, for starters) make it worth visiting .

Explore world-class museums like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, and the Stedelijk Museum; wander through the lush Vondelpark, walk or boat along the idyllic canals and sample jenever, the Dutch version of gin, with some sharp local gouda.

The city has taken steps to combat over-tourism , so be respectful . A great thing about Amsterdam is its access to the countryside and other Dutch cities — in Holland, nothing is too far away.

• 10 things to know before you go to Amsterdam
• Every tourist in Amsterdam makes these same mistakes
• Amsterdam hotel reviews: InterContinental Amsterdam Amstel Hotel , Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam , The Apollo Hotel Amsterdam
• Where to eat in Amsterdam

Rome, Italy

It was hard to limit this list to one Italian city (Florence and Venice were also contenders) but Rome hits all the marks for first-timers: major landmarks, unique culture, easy access and navigability, and classic neighborhoods worth wandering by foot. With ancient ruins dating back more than 2,500 years, epic museums and some of the best pizza and pasta, Rome is a traveler's dream.

The city can be crowded, though, so plan ahead and book tickets for major attractions like the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel and Roman Forum in advance. As with all cities, be sure to obey local laws and customs, especially at busy sites like the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain as the city has recently been cracking down on tourists behaving badly.

• How to plan the perfect family trip to Rome
• Rome hotels for families using points
• Rome hotel reviews: The St. Regis Rome ,
• 10 things your kids will love to do in Rome
• The best times to visit Italy

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is a diverse city that can engage all your senses — in a good way. With classic palaces, moving memorials and art-filled museums, the city has so much to offer and is easy to navigate on the U-Bahn, by bike or on foot. Visit the museums on Museum Island, reflect at the Holocaust Memorial, head up to the Reichstag's glass dome (be sure to book in advance), marvel at the city's stunning churches and take in the art at the East Side Gallery, the Berlin Wall's remaining piece that features paintings by more than 100 artists from around the world.

After a long day, reenergize with some shnitzel, eisbein, currywurst and doner kebab, washed down with plenty of cheap but delicious beer. Save your stamina for the city's incredible nightlife — it's known as Europe's clubbing capital. And next year Berlin will get a new airport .

Save your Hilton points for a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin (56,000 to 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night).

• Berlin hotel reviews: Grand Hyatt Berlin , Hotel Indigo Berlin Alexanderplatz

Vienna, Austria

This charming city is a sleeper hit, displaying Old World European architecture and style alongside more modern design. Stroll Vienna 's grand boulevards, sip coffee in its magnificent coffeehouses and explore its many opulent palaces and museums. But save time to discover trendy neighborhoods like Leopoldstadt and Mariahilf, see the utterly unique art and architecture of Hundertwasser and even visit a beach along the Danube River.

The city is also an under-the-radar stop for families . It's home to the world's oldest amusement park, the Prater, and the world's oldest zoo. Visit the Naschmarkt for plenty of snacks and drinks, followed by a slice of Sacher torte, of course.

Getting to Vienna on points and miles is easy and there are plenty of hotels bookable with rewards as well. Save up your Bonvoy points for a night or two at the lavish Hotel Imperial .

• Austrian Airlines give Boston its first-ever Vienna service
• 5 tips for visiting Vienna's famous Christmas markets
• Vienna hotel reviews: Park Hyatt Vienna

Copenhagen, Denmark

Scandinavia has its own look and feel and Copenhagen is the ideal way for first-timers to sample Europe's north country. Design lovers, foodies and anyone who's into shopping will fall in love with the city. There's also no lack of castles, bustling squares, picturesque buildings and magnificent churches.

Be sure to put Nyhavn, Tivoli Gardens, the Little Mermaid statue, the Opera House, the Black Diamond and at least one palace on your list, and consider leaving the city to go 20 miles north to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

You may not be able to get a table at Noma, often rated the best restaurant in the world, but Copenhagen is full of other acclaimed restaurants pushing the envelope like Relae, Hija de Sanchez, and Amass, not to mention some of the best bakeries in the world.

• 10 of the most Instagrammable places in Copenhagen
• Copenhagen hotel review: Radisson Royal Copenhagen
• All about Amsterdam Airport Schipol

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul straddles Asia and Europe, bridging the two continents in a riot of colors, smells and sounds. It can feel overwhelming, but it's also at the top of many people's lists of their favorite cities. The European side of the Bosphorus River encompasses the Old City of Sultanahmet, complete with the iconic Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. The Asian side is more residential and has fewer tourist attractions, but it's worth exploring to see how locals live and to visit the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art.

A ferry ride along the Bosphorus is an excellent way to see more of the city and nearby fishing villages. A traipse across the Galata Bridge, sampling a fish sandwich on the way, is a must. The city also recently got a new airport , making it the world's largest air terminal , and cruise ships are also stopping there again.

• Review: Turkish Airlines lounge at the new Istanbul airport
• Planning the perfect Turkey layover on your trip through IST
• Should you take kids to Istanbul?

Budapest, Hungary

Too often visitors keep to the western side of Europe but Eastern Europe is bursting with a life of its own. Budapest , sometimes called the Paris of the East, is one of its most beautiful cities — actually, it's two cities straddling the Danube, Buda and Pest , which are linked by the iconic Chain Bridge.

Take a dip in hot-spring-fed bathhouses on Margaret Island, stroll through Woodland Park, gawk at dozens of magnificent churches and spend time on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castle Hill, which is home to Buda Castle and various museums and monuments. Hotels are a bit more limited here, but there are still several brands represented where you can spend your reward points, often for less than hotels cost in other cities.

• 10 things you need to know before your first trip to Europe
• How to get business class flights to Europe from 26,500 miles

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

City Guides .\33 a132798-3f3b-4585-954d-7e70cf863447{fill:#231f20}

The most visited cities in europe | a guide to the most popular european cities.

A list of the European cities that attract the greatest number of international visitors each year.

Trip Planning

Europe receives around 746 million international arrivals every year but what are the most visited cities in Europe? In this guide, I thought it would be helpful to outline the most popular cities in Europe because this serves as a great starting point for trip planning—especially if you want to do a multi-city trip.

The Most Visited Cities in Europe

Quick Note: This list of the most visited cities in Europe comes from a 2019 study done by Euromonitor International , another Top 100 Cities in The World study , and each city’s local tourism office. These numbers are both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic so we’re seeing numbers starting to reflect the travel boom. I’ve also written a guide on the best party cities in Europe if you’re looking for the top nightlife destinations.

1. London, United Kingdom — 19.6 Million Annual Visitors

London has been the most visited city in Europe for multiple years — in fact, London is one of the most visited cities in the world.

London is one of my favorite cities and it makes an excellent first stop for many travelers for multiple reasons.

First, London has multiple major airports so flights to/from London are plentiful and they tend to have the lowest ticket prices. Second, London is great for first-time travelers because there is no language barrier so it’s a nice way to ease into visiting a foreign country. Third, London is simply a fantastic world-class city with so much to do, see, and eat. You can easily spend a week or more here and never run out of things to experience.

LONDON TRAVEL TIPS: London Travel Guide , London Travel Prices , London on a Budget , London Pass Review

Source: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/number-international-visitors-london

2. Paris, France – 19.1 Million Annual Visitors

Paris has always been a major tourist destination — and rightfully so. In fact, Paris has been nipping at London’s heels for multiple years and many experts expect Paris to be the most visited European city within a few years. Furthermore, France is the most visited country in Europe.

Personally, Paris is my favorite city (I lived there for a few years so I might be biased) because it is absolutely jam-packed with famous sights, museums, nightlife, and culture. Paris also has an excellent Metro system so getting around is quick and easy.

Additionally, Paris also boasts the highest number of vacation rental apartments along with a robust hotel and hostel inventory.

PARIS TRAVEL TIPS: Paris Travel Guide , Best Things To Do In Paris , Paris Travel Prices , Best Budget Restaurants in Paris , Paris Pass Review , Where To Stay in Paris , Best Food Markets in Paris

Source: https://press.parisinfo.com/key-figures

3. Istanbul, Turkey – 14.7 Million Annual Visitors

Istanbul has suffered from political instability and security concerns for quite a while but things have calmed down considerably over the past few years. This has made tourism in Instabul skyrocket and now the city is one of the most visited cities in the world—especially for Europeans wanting to experience Istanbul’s “East meets West” vibe.

Source: https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-249283/tourism-statistics.html

4. Rome, Italy – 10.3 Million Annual Visitors

It’s no surprise that Rome is one of the most visited cities in Europe as it’s widely considered the “world’s second most historically, educationally and culturally interesting and beautiful city”. Rome is another heavy-hitting tourism destination that can easily fill a week (or longer) visit.

Rome is also well connected to Italy’s great cities and regions — making it an excellent first stop before exploring the rest of this amazing country.

ROME TRAVEL TIPS: Rome Travel Guide , Things To Do in Rome , Rome Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Rome , Rome Pass Review

Source: https://www.esteri.it/en/

5. Amsterdam, Netherlands — 8.8 Million Annual Visitors

Despite its relatively small size, Amsterdam is still a major European tourism destination thanks to its beautiful architecture, lovely canals, and liberal social policies. It’s also consistently ranked one of the best places to live in Europe.

Amsterdam is certainly one of the most expensive cities in Europe — especially when it comes to accommodation (which tends to happen when small cities receive millions of visitors). Over-tourism is a problem in Amsterdam so I recommend visiting during the off-season if you want to avoid some of the crowds.

AMSTERDAM TRAVEL TIPS: Amsterdam Travel Guide , Amsterdam Travel Prices , Amsterdam Pass Review , Best Hostels in Amsterdam

Source: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/search-results/tagrepository/amstatisticsresearch?

6. Barcelona, Spain — 7 Million Annual Visitors

Barcelona finds its way onto most travel itineraries… and for good reason. This Spanish has a vibrant food scene, a plethora of unique historic architecture, great Mediterranean weather, beautiful beaches, and some of the best nightlife in Europe (many consider it the top nightlife destination in the world).

BARCELONA TRAVEL TIPS: Barcelona Travel Guide , Barcelona Travel Prices , Barcelona Pass Review , Best Hostels in Barcelona

Source: https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/turisme/en/estadistiques_enquestes

7. Prague, Czech Republic — 6.8 Million Annual Visitors

It’s cliche to say but Prague truly feels like a “fairy tale” city — if you remove most of the tourists, that is. And while Prague isn’t as cheap as it once was, you can still save quite a bit compared to other cities on this list (especially on food and alcohol). Summers do get quite busy so visit during the other times of the year if you want to escape the crowds.

PRAGUE TRAVEL TIPS: Prague Travel Guide , Prague Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Prague

Source: https://www.praguecitytourism.cz/en/our-services/statistics

8. Vienna, Austria — 6.6 Million Annual Visitors

Vienna is constantly a top contender for the most livable city in Europe so it’s no surprise it’s a major tourist destination. Vienna’s mix of Art Nouveau, Gothic, and Baroque architecture makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

And you can’t visit without spending a few hours enjoying a coffee and traditional desserts at the many traditional Viennese coffee houses.

VIENNA TRAVEL TIPS: Vienna Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Vienna , Vienna Pass Review

Source: https://www.wien.gv.at/english/administration/statistics/tourism.html

9. Milan, Italy — 6.5 Million Annual Visitors

Milan is the fashion capital of Europe and the business/finance capital of Italy. It undoubtedly has a more buttoned-up vibe than the rest of Italy, and it wouldn’t be my top Italian destination, but it’s still a great city if you’ve already explored Italy’s other highlights.

MILAN TRAVEL TIPS: Milan Travel Guide , Milan Travel Prices , Best Things to Do in Milan , Best Hostels in Milan

Source: https://www.milan.eu/tourist-information/facts-figures/

10. Athens, Greece — 6.3 Million Annual Visitors

Athens is often the jumping-off point to explore the famous Greek Islands but it’s also the historical capital of Europe — as well as the birthplace of democracy, arts, science, and philosophy of Western civilization. And, of course, Athens is home to the Acropolis and Parthenon.

While the city is safe, Athens as a whole is kind of drab and gritty so it’s not your typical “beautiful European city” that many people imagine it would be.

ATHENS TRAVEL TIPS: Athens Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Athens

Source: https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/STO12/2019

11. Berlin, Germany — 6.3 Million Annual Visitors

It was once famously said that “Berlin is poor but sexy.” And while Berlin isn’t as cheap as it once was, it’s still one of the cheapest major European cities. Berlin continues to be one of the hottest nightlife/clubbing destinations in the world but you’ll find that the city offers a ton of other cultural activities as well — including many excellent museums.

BERLIN TRAVEL TIPS: Berlin Travel Guide , Berlin Travel Prices , Berlin Pass Review , Best Hostels in Berlin

Source: https://about.visitberlin.de/en/current-figures

12. Moscow, Russia — 6 Million Annual Visitors

Moscow still remains a bit of a mystery to many Western visitors — especially since getting an entry visa is a bit of a bureaucratic hurdle and the long flight adds to the difficulty. But this massive city offers a lot to people looking to get off the beaten tourism path.

Source: https://www.mos.ru/en/news/item/45937073/

13. Venice, Italy — 5.6 Million Annual Visitors

The amazingly beautiful city of Venice is sinking so visit before it’s too late. Venice is another one of the small cities that suffer from over-tourism — especially since it’s a popular port for giant cruise ships. However, Venice empties out at night so if you stay in the city overnight you’ll be rewarded with a completely different experience.

VENICE TRAVEL TIPS: Venice Travel Guide , Venice Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Venice

Source: https://www.comune.venezia.it/en/content/tourist-report-daily-estimate-visitors-venice

14. Madrid, Spain — 5.6 Million Annual Visitors

Spain’s capital and largest city, Madrid is a top destination for good reason — it’s a lively city that’s both affordable by Western European standards and boasts outstanding culture, architecture, art, and excellent nightlife. But it’s also a fairly modern city so you’ll discover that much of the architecture is from the 20th century — which can sometimes be a surprise to many visitors looking for “old” Europe. That said, it is a city overflowing with energy and old-world charm that’s worth checking out.

MADRID TRAVEL TIPS: Madrid Travel Guide , Madrid Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Madrid , Best Things To Do in Madrid

Source: https://www.madrid-destino.com/en/madrid-in-numbers

15. Dublin, Ireland — 5.5 Million Annual Visitors

Dublin is a small yet vibrant city that has a way of charming its visitors — thanks to its friendly locals. Dublin also has a large student population and an excellent pub culture so the nightlife offers something for everyone. The city is fairly small so it’s a very manageable city to explore on foot. However, Dublin is fairly expensive (especially food and alcohol).

DUBLIN TRAVEL TIPS: Dublin Travel Guide , Dublin Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Dublin , Dublin Pass Review

Source: https://www.visitdublin.com/

16. Florence, Italy — 5.1 Million Annual Visitors

Along with Rome, Florence is a must-see Italian destination and it’s only a 1.5 highspeed train ride away from Rome. And while Florence is a popular day-trip destination, it’s best experienced for a few days — plus the crowds thin out at night. And you’ll need a few days to take in all the city’s beauty and its delicious food.

FLORENCE TRAVEL TIPS: Florence Travel Guide , Florence Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Florence

Source: https://www.visitflorence.com/tourist-info/

17. St Petersburg, Russia — 4.5 Million Annual Visitors

Saint Petersburg is known as the “Cultural Capital of Russia” and it’s full of grandiose 18th and 19th-century architecture. The city is also home to 221 museums including the world-famous Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum.  Saint Petersburg feels much more European than Russian (visit Moscow if you want to full “Russian” experience).

Source: https://studyinrussia.ru/en/life-in-russia/discover-russia/towns/saint-petersburg/

18. Brussels, Belgium — 4.3 Million Annual Visitors

Home of the European Union, Brussels is one of those cities that everyone has heard about but it doesn’t have many must-see sights. Brussels has a reputation for being somewhat boring and expensive (thanks to all the government leaders) but the city is starting to attract more of a creative class so it’s slowly shaking off its stodgy image.

If nothing else, you’ll have a steady supply of amazing beer. And chocolate. And fries. And waffles. And beer. And chocolate. And beer.

BRUSSELS TRAVEL TIPS: Brussels Travel Guide , Brussels Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Brussels

Source: https://visit.brussels/site/en/article/tourism-observatory-annual-report

19. Munich, Germany — 4.2 Million Annual Visitors

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is home to centuries-old classically German buildings and multiple museums. Munich is also known for its annual raucous Oktoberfest. Speaking of Oktoberfest, Munich is also a beer drinker’s paradise so don’t forget to spend some time in one of the city’s many beer gardens.

MUNICH TRAVEL TIPS: Munich Travel Guide , Munich Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Munich

Source: https://www.munich.travel/en/topics/about-us/data-facts-and-market-research

20. Hamburg, Germany — 4 Million Annual Visitors

Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city. Hamburg has long been one of Europe’s largest ports, and like most port cities, Hamburg is a little rough around the edges. But Hamburg has undergone a major transformation over the past few years and it’s now often considered Germany’s hippest city. Now you’ll find plenty of new restaurants, bars, and clubs.

HAMBURG TRAVEL TIPS: Hamburg Travel Guide , Hamburg Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Hamburg

Source: https://marketing.hamburg.de/facts-figures-tourism-in-hamburg.html

21. Budapest, Hungary — 4 Million Annual Visitors

Often called the “Paris of the East,” Budapest is another one of Eastern Europe’s great destinations that is increasingly becoming one of Europe’s most visited cities. It has elegant boulevards. It has beautiful architecture. But it has much more grit and edge thanks to its years under communist rule. It’s also affordable and one of Europe’s best nightlife destinations.

BUDAPEST TRAVEL TIPS: Budapest Travel Guide , Budapest Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Budapest

Source: https://www.budapestinfo.hu/statistics-and-analyses

22. Tallinn, Estonia — 4 Million Annual Visitors

Located between Stockholm and St. Petersburg, Tallinn offers an alluring mix of Nordic and Russian cultures. Tallinn still has multiple medieval buildings (with a mix of Soviet-era buildings) and it’s one of Europe’s most complete walled cities. Tallinn is one of the most popular day trips from Helsinki and thanks to a recently built cruise ship docks, Tallinn does get overrun with tourists — so staying overnight helps give you a better experience.

Source: https://www.visittallinn.ee/eng/professional/statistics-surveys/reports/tourism-reports

23. Lisbon, Portugal — 3.6 Million Annual Visitors

Lisbon is a hot destination and I suspect it will be quickly moving up in the ranks of Europe’s most visited cities. Lisbon is a laid-back city with coastal vibes that’s famous for its pastel buildings, café culture, and charmingly gritty vibe. It’s also very friendly on the wallet when compared to other Western European cities — food and lodging are both priced reasonably and attractions are about average.

LISBON TRAVEL TIPS: Lisbon Travel Guide , Lisbon Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Lisbon

Source: https://www.visitlisboa.com/en

24. Copenhagen, Denmark — 3.2 Million Annual Visitors

You don’t need to visit Copenhagen for more than a few hours to realize why the Danes are some of the happiest people in the world and why Copenhagen is one of Europe’s “must-visit” destinations. The city has so many things going for it — a mix of beautiful old and state-of-the-art architecture, a great food scene, plenty of sights and museums, tons of coffee shops, a lively craft beer scene, plenty of culture, lots of shopping, an excellent biking culture, and friendly locals.

COPENHAGEN TRAVEL TIPS: Copenhagen Travel Guide , Copenhagen Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Copenhagen

Source: https://www.wonderfulcopenhagen.com/wonderful-copenhagen/analyses-insights/reports-and-insights

25. Edinburgh, Scotland — 3.1 Million Annual Visitors

Edinburgh is a beautiful, youthful city in Scotland that has a magical medieval Old Town, an elegant Georgian New Town, and the impressive Edinburgh Castle. It also attracts thousands of visitors during its E dinburgh Festival each August. It’s also a very welcoming city with friendly locals and excellent Scottish pubs and bars.

EDINBURGH TRAVEL TIPS: Edinburgh Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Edinburgh

Source: https://www.etag.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/facts-and-figures-2012.pdf

26. Heraklion, Greece — 3 Million Annual Visitors

Heraklion is a port city and the capital of the Greek island of Crete. And despite its relatively high visitor numbers, most people spend little time in Heraklion because they use the city as a first stop for exploring the rest of the region.

Source: https://www.heraklion.gr/en/visitor

27. Kraków, Poland — 2.9 Million Annual Visitors

Krakow is a beautiful, old-school little city in Poland that also has a reputation for being a party town thanks to its cheap prices and large university student population. And while Warsaw is the official capital of Poland, Krakow is the country’s cultural and intellectual capital.

KRAKOW TRAVEL TIPS: Krakow Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Krakow

Source: https://convention.krakow.pl/english/ccb_en/….tourists_have_visited_krakow.html

28. Warsaw, Poland — 2.8 Million Annual Visitors

Largely destroyed during WWII, Warsaw is the sprawling and rebuilt capital of Poland that is just starting to be discovered by visitors. Warsaw doesn’t have a large tourism infrastructure so it takes a little more effort and planning to get the most out of your visit.

Source: https://warsawtour.pl/en/contact-us/

29. Frankfurt, Germany — 2.7 Million Annual Visitors

Frankfurt is a largely modern city that’s more of a business-centric city than a touristic destination. And while there are some nice museums and sights, Frankfurt wouldn’t be one of my top German destinations.

Source: https://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/en/Press/Publications/Statistics

30. Stockholm, Sweden — 2.7 Million Annual Visitors

The beautiful city of Stockholm is easy on the eyes and rough on the wallet. Stockholm is actually a city spread over 14 islands and over those islands, you’ll find plenty to do. The only thing that keeps Stockholm from being a more popular city is its relatively remote location.

STOCKHOLM TRAVEL TIPS: Stockholm Travel Prices , Stockholm Pass Review

Source: https://www.stockholmbusinessregion.com/globalassets/about-us/facts-and-figures/…..pdf

31. Nice, France — 2.6 Million Annual Visitors

Nice is a beautiful city in the South of France that’s been a favorite summer vacation destination for Europeans for hundreds of years. And while Southern France has a well-earned reputation for being expensive, Nice has plenty of budget-friendly options — including multiple excellent museums and easy train access to multiple seaside towns.

NICE TRAVEL TIPS: Nice Travel Guide , Nice Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Nice

Source: https://en.meet-in-nice.com/key-figures

32. Porto, Portugal — 2.5 Million Annual Visitors

While Lisbon gets the greatest number of tourists in Portugal, the slightly shabby yet beautiful city of Porto still offers plenty to its visitors — especially when it comes to beautiful weather. Porto is also a very affordable city so it’s attracting many young chefs and people looking for great travel deals.

Source: https://www.investporto.pt/en/sectors/tourism/#:~:text=The%20Greater%20Porto%20Area%20represents,over%2Dnight%20stays%20since%202014

33. Bruges, Belgium — 2.5 Million Annual Visitors

Despite its small size, the medieval fairytale town Bruges is one of the most popular destinations in Europe — in fact, it probably gets more visitors than this list makes it seem since many people visit as a day trip. You can easily see the city in a day but visiting overnight gives you a better (and less touristy) view of the city.

BRUGES TRAVEL TIPS: Bruges Travel Prices

Source: https://www.visitbruges.be/en

34. Reykjavik, Iceland — 2 Million Annual Visitors

Tourism to Reykjavik has exploded over the past few years and now they’re getting over two million visitors each year — which is a lot for a city with a population of just over 100,000. Reykjavik is a city surrounded by incredible nature but it’s also a city full of life. It’s also a city that’s super expensive so it will put a hurting on your wallet.

REYKJAVIK TRAVEL TIPS: Reykjavik Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Reykjavik

Source: https://www.ferdamalastofa.is/en/recearch-and-statistics/numbers-of-foreign-visitors

35. Seville, Spain — 2 Million Annual Visitors

Seville is Spain’s fourth-largest city and it’s one of the most-loved destinations in Southern Europe. There is plenty to see and eat in this laid-back city so it’s worth spending a few days exploring — but be warned at Seville is one of Europe’s hottest cities in the summer so you may want to visit in the spring or fall to escape the heat.

SEVILLE TRAVEL TIPS: Seville Travel Guide , Seville Travel Prices , Best Hostels in Seville

Source: https://www.visitasevilla.es/en/professionals/research-statistics

36. Lyon, France — 1.6 Million Annual Visitors

Lyon is the food capital of France — which is saying a lot for a country famous for its food. Lyon is also a hub for art, culture, winemaking, and commerce. Lyon has many museums as well as a youthful vibe thanks to its large university population. Many visitors also feel like Lyon is more friendly and welcoming than Paris.

Source: https://presse.lyon-france.com/en/tool-box/key-figures

37. Dubrovnik, Croatia — 1.5 Million Annual Visitors

Dubrovnik (and the rest of Croatia) hasn’t traditionally been a wildly popular tourist destination but in recent years it has exploded in popularity — along with higher prices. Now the “pearl of the Adriatic” sees millions of visitors wanting to explore the walled Old Town of this beautiful city so visit in the off-season if you want to avoid the crowds.

DUBROVNIK TRAVEL TIPS: Dubrovnik Travel Prices

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The Best Cities to Visit in Europe by Train

Last Updated on March 4, 2024

Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful places, with many easily accessible by train. The continent’s extensive rail network takes you to picturesque countryside past scenic vineyards and into remote villages and bustling cities, providing a scenic journey. Train travel allows for immersive experiences, enabling you to witness the diverse scenery that Europe is known for. With efficient connections and high-speed trains, exploring Europe by rail is convenient, eco-friendly, and affordable.

Here are the best cities to visit in Europe by train.

Vienna, Austria

As one of the most culturally rich and historically significant European cities, Vienna is one of the best cities to visit by train. Traveling to Vienna by train is the best way to soak up the beauty of the Austrian countryside, passing through picturesque villages, rolling hills, and majestic mountains.

As you get off the train, Vienna will delight you with its grandeur, charm, and timeless elegance. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , invites exploration with its magnificent architecture, opulent palaces, and cobblestone streets lined with quaint cafes and boutiques.

Marvel at architectural masterpieces such as the majestic Schönbrunn Palace, the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and the splendid Belvedere Palace, each offering insights into Vienna’s rich cultural heritage and history.

Art and music lovers will enjoy Vienna’s vibrant cultural scene, with world-class museums, galleries, and concert halls showcasing the works of renowned artists and composers such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Food lovers can indulge in Vienna’s culinary delights, with traditional coffeehouses serving decadent pastries, cozy wine taverns offering regional specialties, and Michelin-starred restaurants specializing in Austrian cuisine.

Vienna’s blend of history, culture, and sophistication makes it a perfect destination to visit by train, allowing you to embark on a journey of discovery and enchantment amidst the city’s timeless beauty.

Florence, Italy

Often referred to as the “Jewel of the Renaissance,” Florence beckons for a luxurious vacation and is best seen by rail. Offering a seamless and scenic journey through the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany. Traveling to Florence by train provides a convenient and comfortable mode of transportation while soaking in the beauty of the Italian countryside, with its rolling hills, vineyards, and charming villages.

With its Renaissance architecture and artistic treasures, Florence will have plenty to delight visitors. The city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to iconic landmarks, including the magnificent Florence Cathedral, the elegant Ponte Vecchio bridge, and the renowned Uffizi Gallery, housing masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.

Wander through the narrow streets of Florence’s medieval quarters to discover hidden gems, artisan workshops, and bustling markets selling local delicacies and artisanal crafts. Art and culture enthusiasts can discover Florence’s rich cultural scene with visits to world-class museums, galleries, and churches showcasing the city’s unparalleled artistic legacy and cultural heritage.

Florence’s blend of history, art, and culture makes it a perfect destination to visit by train, where you can immerse in the timeless charm of one of Italy’s most beloved cities.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of the most delightful destinations to visit by train, offering a convenient and picturesque journey through The Netherlands’ scenic landscapes before arriving in the vibrant and culturally rich city. Traveling to Amsterdam by train provides a hassle-free and sustainable mode of transportation, allowing you to relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery en route.

Upon arrival, Amsterdam welcomes you with its charming canals, historic architecture, and dynamic cultural scene. The city’s iconic canal belt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fun place to stroll around, with its picturesque waterways, charming bridges, and historic canal houses lining the streets.

Wander through Amsterdam’s bustling neighborhoods to discover hidden courtyards, lively markets, and trendy boutiques selling Dutch design and fashion. Amsterdam’s world-class museums and galleries are a delight to explore, especially the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House.

Don’t miss the chance to indulge in Amsterdam’s culinary delights by visiting cosy cafes, serving delicious Dutch pancakes, bustling street markets offering a variety of international cuisines, and traditional brown cafes serving local beers and snacks.

London, United Kingdom

Offering a seamless and scenic journey through the picturesque English countryside, London is an exceptional destination to visit by train and the perfect little UK getaway . Traveling to London by train provides an immersive experience, allowing you to witness the gradual transition from lush landscapes to the bustling heart of the British capital.

London will welcome you with its blend of history, modernity, and cosmopolitan energy. The city’s historic landmarks, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and the Houses of Parliament, showcase centuries of British heritage and architectural splendour.

Explore the vibrant neighborhoods of London, each with its unique character – from the eclectic markets and street art of Shoreditch to the upscale boutiques of Mayfair and the cultural richness of Covent Garden.

Soak up London’s culinary scene on a gastronomic adventure, with diverse options ranging from traditional British fare at historic pubs to Michelin-starred dining experiences showcasing international flavors.

Paris, France

Paris is one of Europe’s most enchanting cities to visit by train, offering a romantic and scenic journey through the charming French countryside. Traveling to Paris by train is the best way to savor the beauty of the changing landscapes, from rolling vineyards to quaint villages, immersing in the quintessential French experience.

Paris fascinates with its timeless beauty, iconic landmarks, and romantic atmosphere. The city’s majestic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum, epitomize centuries of art, history, and architectural brilliance.

Wander through the charming neighborhoods of Paris, each with a unique charm – from the historic streets of Le Marais to the bohemian vibe of Montmartre and the chic elegance of the Champs-Elysees.

Art and culture enthusiasts can revel in the city’s world-class museums and galleries, such as the Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, and Centre Pompidou. Foodies can indulge in Parisian cuisine at charming cafes serving croissants and café au lait, bustling bistros offering classic French dishes, and Michelin-starred restaurants specializing in fine dining. 

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Cheapest Nicest: 10 European Cities to Visit on a Budget

By Anna Prendergast

Getting to Europe is expensive these days—by the time you're there, you might feel like you can't afford to do anything. Fear not, some of the cheapest cities in Europe can be just as exciting as a Venice or a London (some of the continent, and the world's, more expensive places to spend time). There's some equally beautiful tourism spots where you can get around much more cheaply. We've broken down some of the latest data to find the cheapest cities in Europe to visit in 2023. A coastal cosmopolis, snow-capped city, and more await without breaking the bank.

Note: you’ll notice some wonderful European cities missing from this list, namely Kiev in Ukraine . It has been tragically affected by the war in Ukraine, and should be avoided until safe to visit – until then, find out how to help the people of Ukraine right now.

Athens, Greece

This year’s Post Office City Costs Barometer ranked Greece’s historical capital as the cheapest location for an autumn city break in Europe, and noted that priced have dropped by 15 per cent since 2021. Hotels in Athens are of particularly good value, with plenty of small, family-run and boutique spots. According to the survey, two nights at a three-star hotel for two guests average $110–but super-central One Three One is steps away from Monastiraki Flea Market and goes as low as $68 per night, while guests will find balcony views of the acropolis at Hotel Adonis, which has a rooftop terrace and costs as low as $102 for a double room (breakfast included).

Lisbon, Portugal

While the pretty Portuguese capital is known for its award-winning restaurants , travelers can still dine out on a dime–after Athens, it’s the cheapest city for a three-course meal (averaging around $50). On the move, you’ll get change from a two-euro coin when buying coffee or a mandatory pastel de nata from Pastéis de Belém, a beer costs around $3 (putting London’s £6 pints to shame) and a $0.75 Viva Viagem card can save you up to half off tram journeys. For a place to stay, there are plenty of affordable hotels in Lisbon . We love Hotel 1908 , where smart rooms in one of the city’s most iconic buildings can be booked from $160 per night. Or you can save further by opting for an Airbnb. Some of the city's top trending Airbnbs, like this pretty apartment with a private balcony in Lapa , can be taken over for around $60 per night.

Klagenfurt, Austria

Klagenfurt is one of Austria’s most affordable cities to visit (main courses are around $7; the farmers’ market on Benediktinerplatz is a great place for local bargains), and its spectacular setting on the eastern bank of Lake Wörthersee makes it one of the most scenic, too. June is the cheapest time to go, before the summer crowds and wild swimmers descend on the waterfront.

Kaunas, Lithuania

Vilnius has long been topping lists of the cheapest places to go on holiday, but Kaunas to the west is even less expensive, and earlier this year was named as one of 2022’s European Capitals of Culture for its music, art and theatre. Its yearly CityTelling Festival hosts a wide variety of performances and exhibitions that place the city’s Jewish heritage centre stage, and access to most events is free, while four-star hotel rooms are as little as $75 a night. For the best views of the Baltic city, a funicular up Aleksoto Hill will cost just a couple of euros. The best bargain in town? Spurginė’s $0.92 spurgos (or doughnuts).

Jessica Puckett

Olivia Morelli

Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

Devra Ferst

Riga, Latvia

According to the Post Office, Riga is one of the cheapest cities in Europe, coming in a close second after Dublin for culture and Athens for accommodation. Wind your way through the narrow alleyways of the charming Old Town, find €2 samsas for lunch at the central covered market located in converted Zeppelin hangars, watch free live music in Dome Square and see striking architecture such as the House of the Blackheads ($7 entry) and the medieval Swedish Gate. But one of the most underrated ways of seeing Riga is on the water–rent a paddleboard for just $18 on the banks of the Daugava River.

Berat, Albania

Like Puglia’s trulli or Chefchaouen’s all-blue buildings, Berat’s unforgettable white Ottoman houses are totally unique in their collective existence and visual impact. The simple, traditional rooms inside also provide a super-affordable way to stay here, as many are guest-houses or independently-run hotels, such as Hotel Vila Aleksandar or Hotel Mangelemi , both around $43 per night. Head up the steep cobblestoned streets to see the 13th Century Berat Castle (entry is free) and take in the ‘town of a thousand windows’ from the top.

Brașov, Transylvania, Romania

A cheaper alternative to Bucharest (which is still, by European standards, incredibly good value), Brașov is surrounded by the scenic Carpathian Mountains. A cable car up to the top of Mount Tampa costs just 20 lei ($4.20) for aerial views of the brick-red rooftops, whilst local tour operator Walkabout provide a free walking tour every morning at 10.30am, setting off from the fountain in Piata Sfatului. Pick up local delicacy kürtőskalács (a spit-roasted, sugar-covered ‘chimney cake’) to maintain your energy levels from the stall nearby.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Not only did Bulgaria take the lead (side by side with Turkey ) as cheapest all-round destination in Europe in the Post Office’s Holiday Money Report 2022, but the country is also home to some of the world’s cheapest ski resorts. Sofia, the capital, is just over 10km away from the Vitosha Mountains which provide impressive winter conditions for snow bunnies and cost a fraction of the price of resorts in France or Italy. Wine and Bulgarian beers are notoriously cheap, and downtown Sofia is known for its high-energy party atmosphere. Entry to clubs is seldom more than $13, with live DJ sets and late-night events at Maze or Culture Beat (which also has a great summer terrace for cocktails).

Izmir, Turkey

Travelers to Turkey can get great value for money. On Turkey’s Aegean coast, Izmir has resisted the price hikes of Istanbul and tourist traps of Ankara whilst preserving its 8,500-year-old Kemeraltı bazaar and ancient Roman agora. The historic sites and architectural relics coexist with cosmopolitan culture and traditional cuisine–try pide on the pier or baked potatoes with a choice of toppings at Atıştır Café. An hour out of town is Ephesus, an ancient city built by the Greeks and well worth a detour.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Whilst the transcontinental city of Tbilisi is the most expensive place to live in Georgia, by European standards it’s exceptionally affordable for holidaymakers. A cascade of new hotels have opened in the last few years, such as the lovely Guest House Lile with double rooms from $25 per night. Foodies should book a table at Barbarestan, a family-run restaurant with authentic recipes and local ingredients, where you can eat for around £40 each – not bad for somewhere given a nod by the crew behind the World’s 50 Best Restaurants .

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller U.K. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The pretty city with some of Europe’s best food – as well as the ‘poor man’s champagne’ and the world’s best tiramisu

• Carina Murphy , SEO Editor
• Published : 21:30, 31 May 2024
• Updated : 21:30, 31 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

WHETHER you want to sip Aperol spritz in the old town, mountain bike through the Alps or relax at a lakefront thermal spa, Lugano has it all.

Just across the Swiss border on the shores of Lake Lugano, the city can be easily reached by train from Milan airport (with fares starting at just £11).

In fact it’s the perfect destination for a long weekend away . . . 

WHY SHOULD I GO?

This Swiss city has all the romance of the Italian lakes — think sweeping mountain views and waterfront ­restaurants — on a much more ­wallet-friendly budget.

Unlike A-lister haunt Lake Como , where Madonna , George Clooney and Richard Branson have owned villas, a trip to Lugano won’t break the bank.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

There’s no better way to take in the mountain views than with a stroll around Lugano’s historic port.

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Before it became part of Switzerland , the region was under the control of Como and Milan for more than 500 years.

So as well as magnificent natural beauty, the city also has plenty of Italian architecture .

While you’re exploring, make sure you pay a visit to the lush Parco Ciani, a lakefront garden with manicured lawns, winding paths and views across the water.

And for those who like a challenge, there’s no shortage of hiking trails around the lake.

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On the way up nearby peaks Monte Bre and Monte San Salvatore, you’ll find native swallows nesting in fig trees, as well as views across the craggy Alpine valley.

Alternatively, you can hike along the shoreline to the picturesque town of Morcote, which was voted Switzerland’s prettiest in 2016.

Don’t fancy the walk? Never fear. You can access Morcote easily by ferry.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?

No trip to Europe’s lake district would be complete without a dip in the water.

Head to the Lido Riva Caccia (just 15 minutes’ walk from the centre of town), where you’ll find tourists and locals swimming in the lake.

The view of the Alps rising up around you is unforgettable, and the lake waters are surprisingly balmy, reaching 25C in the summer .

Fancy something a bit more luxurious?

Then head to the Termali Salini & Spa in the neighbouring Locarno (just 20 minutes on the train), where you can take in panoramic mountain views while floating in saltwater Jacuzzis.

The only way you could feel more relaxed is with a full body massage — which the staff at Termali Salini are more than happy to provide.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

All that walking and swimming is sure to work up an appetite.

Lucky for you, Lugano has some of the best food in Europe .

Local guide Patricia Carminati claims they have the best of the north (think Swiss chocolate and Alpine strudel) and the best of the south (Italian cheese and pasta) — need I say more?

You can put Patricia’s claim to the test by joining her on a food and wine tour of Lugano, sampling all the best traditional restaurants, known as grottos, and local produce the city has to offer.

If it’s a quick bite you’re after, head to local institution Gabbani, a family-run deli that has been serving cured meats, fresh pasta and many more local delicacies since 1937.

Grab a panini or a slice of pizza hot from the oven and enjoy it in the baroque old town square.

As for dessert, you’ll find no shortage of shops flogging doorstop slabs of Swiss chocolate.

Alternatively, head to Pasticceria La Colombina for its famous tiramisu, voted best in the world in 2021.

I FANCY A DRINK . . . 

You’ll find plenty of bars and cafes on the main square, Piazza Della Riforma, where you can enjoy an Aperol spritz or a glass of the regional speciality, white merlot.

The wine bar in the Quartiere Maghetti has especially fine options to choose from, while the baroque Grand Cafe is the perfect place to enjoy a hot chocolate or espresso.

For a more unique drinking experience, hop on the ferry to the Casino di Campione just across the lake.

This tiny Italian town is built around a glamorous waterfront casino where revellers can while the night away.

And if all those wines and cocktails leave you with a sore head the next day, you can soothe your hangover with a glass of mandarin lemonade — or, as the locals call it, “poor man’s champagne”.

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Where should i stay.

For spectacular lake views a stone’s throw from the centre of town, check into the Villa Sassa Hotel and Spa.

With balconies offering panoramic views of the surrounding valley and an outdoor pool overlooking the town, there’s no better spot from which to soak up Lugano’s magical mountain setting.

GETTING THERE: Swiss Air flies from Heathrow to Zurich starting at £76 one way, with one piece of hold luggage.

See swiss.com.

STAYING THERE: Rooms at Villa Sassa Hotel and Spa cost from £111 per night, based on two sharing. villasassa.ch/en .

For more information, see ticino.ch/en .

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20 Best European Cities to Visit in the Winter, According to Travel Experts

Holiday markets and twinkling lights are calling you to these European destinations.

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The draw to Europe in the summer may be strong, but winter tends to be even better — particularly for travelers who don’t fare well in the heat or in large crowds. Apart from the peak holiday season, most cities in Europe tend to free up from tourists during the winter. “For me, traveling around Europe in the off-season, and specifically during winter, opens a whole new world of travel,” says Kayla Zeigler, owner of Destination Europe, LLC . “Way less crowds, lower hotel pricing, cooler weather… and more space to roam and take in all that Europe has to offer.”

Before embarking on your trip, however, there are a few things to be aware of. “Days get shorter during the winter season, which means less daylight for sightseeing. I recommend planning your activities accordingly and being mindful of opening and closing times for attractions and shops,” says Lydia Forte, group director of food and beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels . Weather-wise, your packing list and itinerary will depend on where you’re going. The temperatures in Nordic and Central European cities can reach well below freezing — allowing for picturesque snowy scenes and excellent skiing —  while Southern Europe (which includes Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Malta) promises more sunshine and moderate temperatures. 

Meet the Expert

• Kayla Zeigler owns Destination Europe, a travel agency that specializes in European vacations. 
• Lydia Forte is the group director of food and beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels, a luxury hotel brand with over a dozen properties across Europe. 
• Susan Boehnstedt is president of Critics Choice Vacations, an affiliate of Montecito Village Travel, a Virtuoso agency.
• Tesa Totengco is the founder of Travels with Tesa and a member of Travel + Leisure ’s Travel Advisory Board.

According to Susan Boehnstedt, president of Critics Choice Vacations , you’ll want to start thinking about your trip as soon as possible. “Weather and delays are always possible… [so] additional planning, patience, and perseverance may be required.” That said, the first step in the process is picking out where you want to go — whether you’re interested in Edinburgh’s Christmas markets, Vienna’s opulent balls, or pleasant walks along Las Ramblas in Barcelona. 

Read on to discover 20 of the best European cities to visit in the winter, according to travel experts.

Nuremberg, Germany

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Boehnstedt recommends heading to Nuremberg for the “amazing Christmas markets, musical festivals, and overall festive spirit and atmosphere in the charm of Bavaria.” It will be cold, so travelers should bundle up to explore the charming city — a glass of mulled wine while browsing the famed Christkindlesmarkt, one of Germany’s oldest fairs, helps, too.  

Istanbul, Turkey

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“Istanbul's unique blend of history, culture, and stunning architecture is enchanting year-round. In winter, you can explore iconic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with fewer crowds,” says Tesa Totengco , founder of Travels with Tesa . 

London, England

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“As Christmas approaches, London transforms into a winter wonderland, adorned with captivating city lights, beautifully decorated shops, and many excellent dining choices,” says Forte. Enjoy an afternoon walking through the brightly lit Kew Gardens, or tuck into a Sunday roast at one of the nearby pubs after a long walk through Hampstead Heath. “The weather, while cold, usually is snow-free, so it makes it easier to get about,” adds Boehnstedt.  

Edinburgh, Scotland

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“If you like moody skies and cozy corners in coffee shops, Edinburgh is the place to visit during the winter months,” says Zeigler. Expect cold weather and shorter days — the sun sets before 4 p.m. in December — but there’s still plenty to enjoy in the Scottish capital. “Keep warm with a wee dram, cozied up next to a roaring fire in any of Edinburgh’s iconic luxury hotels ,” says Zeigler. 

Valletta, Malta

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Snow-capped mountains and excursions requiring multiple layers aren’t for everyone. Thankfully, Europe has other options — one of which is Valletta, Malta. “Malta boasts a mild Mediterranean climate, even in winter. You can explore [Valletta’s] rich history, architecture, and vibrant culture without the scorching summer heat,” says Totengco.

Bath, England

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A winter’s day in Bath is best spent browsing its various quaint bookstores, indulging in afternoon tea, soaking in the famed waters of the Thermae Bath Spa, and popping into one of the city’s oldest pubs, Saracens Head or The Star Inn. For a more festive touch, add ice skating at Royal Victoria Park and picking up gifts at the Bath Christmas Market to your day’s activities. 

Paris, France

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It’s true what they say: There’s never a bad time to visit Paris. As fall transitions into the colder months, the City of Light becomes extra cozy and even more romantic. “The museums are empty and are amazing places to have to yourself on a rainy or chilly day. Paris’ famous street cafés are still functioning in winter… with heat lamps and warm furry blankets — perfect for people watching and sipping a glass of wine (or a hot chocolate),” says Zeigler. “And, of course, the lower hotel prices can’t be beat this time of year.”

Related : Why Paris in Winter Is Always a Good Idea — and What to Do While You're There

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Given its status as a UNESCO World Heritage City, it’s no surprise that Dubrovnik is popular with tourists, especially in the summer. In the winter, though, you won’t have to fight for the best views of the iconic sights — the City Walls, the Cable Car, and the Dubrovnik Cathedral. Your trip may also fall during the Dubrovnik Winter Festival , featuring concerts, festive lights, and markets.

Rovaniemi, Finland

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Winter is the ideal time to visit the “official hometown of Santa Claus.” “Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland , is known for its Santa Claus Village, where one can meet Santa Claus himself. Here, you can also enjoy activities like reindeer safaris, dog sledding, and witnessing the northern lights from your unique igloo accommodation ,” says Totengco.

Málaga, Spain

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“Located on the Costa del Sol, Málaga offers a pleasant climate where you can still enjoy outdoor activities, explore historic sites like the Alcazaba, [visit the] neighboring towns of Ronda and Seville, and enjoy delicious Spanish cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere,” says Totengco. Temperatures typically range from the mid-50s to low 70s, and there the sun provides a much-needed dose of vitamin D.

Reykjavík, Iceland

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You’ll only have a few hours of daylight in Reykjavík this time of year, but winter is also your best chance to see the northern lights in Iceland. Consider taking a boat tour out of Reykjavík Old Harbor, or use the city as your base camp before heading off on a longer excursion. To shake the cold, take a dip in the nearby Sky Lagoon, where the waters are typically around 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Related: How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

Rome, Italy

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Rome’s peak season comes to a close in November, so travelers have December through March to enjoy the capital city’s quieter side. Before or after a day of shopping and sightseeing, Forte recommends grabbing pizza from Emma or getting a table at Roscioli for lunch. We think pasta and pizza sound like the perfect way to warm up from a chilly walk.

Lucerne, Switzerland

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As temperatures fall below freezing, the cities and towns in the Swiss Alps — like Lucerne — beckon to winter sports enthusiasts, as well as those who want an extra large helping of alpine charm. “Snow sports in the mountains may likely be very possible. Plan a day tour on one of the Swiss scenic trains across the winter wonderland,” says Boehnstedt. Lucerne is also a great option for international travelers, as it’s just a quick 40-minute train ride from Zurich. 

Lisbon, Portugal

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Lisbon’s sunshine is part of its appeal, even in the winter. Depending on the day, you may only need a light or medium-weight jacket as you walk up and down the many hills, through the cobbled streets, and by the tiled buildings of the Alfama district. Compared to summer, this time of year is significantly more pleasant for on-foot exploration — but don’t forget to hop on a yellow tram at least once or twice. 

Barcelona, Spain

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According to Zeigler, in Barcelona , “one of Europe’s largest and busiest cruise port cities,”  winter means getting a break from the crowds created by cruises. “Imagine walking directly into the Sagrada Familia with no long line! Strolling and exploring are more pleasant; restaurants are less crowded,” she says. Outdoor swimming may be a no-go, but travelers can still bask in the rays along the oceanfront promenade. 

Venice, Italy

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“On a sunny winter day, Venice is pure magic! With the city's new floodgates almost fully working now, hardly any high water (Aqua Alta) affects Venice anymore,” says Zeigler. And, as with most European cities in the off-season, it will be easier to navigate your way through the compact city without the staggering number of summer travelers. “Winter is the perfect time to visit the big sites, as you can get tickets and don’t have to do the ridiculous queues,” says Forte. Check off all the classics, including the Piazza San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, Doge's Palace, and Forte’s personal favorite, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Amsterdam might not be the first European destination you think of when planning winter travel, but it has its own brand of magic this time of year.  “When it stays cold enough, long enough, the many canals of Amsterdam become a giant outdoor skating rink,” says Zeigler. This event is rare — and becoming increasingly so — but there are other sides of Amsterdam to explore as well. Bring a book or a good friend to one of the city’s many coffee shops and pubs, complete with “winter lights and cozy nooks,” she adds. 

Nice, France

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You won’t be frequenting Nice’s beach clubs this time of year, but there’s still beauty to be found in the waterfront city; you just have to know where to look. Get your steps in by walking up Castle Hill, a feat rewarded with an incredible view, or spend a day meandering through the narrow streets of Old Town. Schedule permitting, take a day trip to Monaco, or explore one of the many small towns in the French Riviera . 

Florence, Italy

Those visiting Florence in the winter might not see any snow, but they’ll have the gift of lower hotel prices, fewer fellow travelers, and the option to go truffle hunting. “This time of year is when truffles are in season,” says Forte, who shares that guests of Hotel Savoy — named one of the best hotels in Florence by T+L readers — can book a truffle excursion via a vintage car. “The experience is especially extraordinary as guests can enjoy stunning views of the Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, and San Miniato along their drive before heading into the Tuscan hills on their search for truffles,” she explains. 

Vienna, Austria

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Get out your dancing shoes and black-tie attire: Winter is ball season in Vienna. Viennese balls are open to the public, so travelers just have to find one that aligns with their trip and buy tickets — and don’t worry, there are quite a few to choose from. Not sure where to start? Bookmark the Vienna Philharmonic Ball in January, or the Vienna State Opera Ball in February.

Related Articles

Summer travelers are flocking to northern and central European cities like Brussels and Munich to avoid Mediterranean heat and crowds

Travelers are increasingly opting to skip Europe’s most-visited cities and beachside locales in favor of less-frequented destinations for summer vacations this year. Fresh data shared with Bloomberg by Chase Travel shows that cities with the biggest year-on-year tourism increases this summer include such off-the-beaten-track destinations as Brussels, Munich, Zurich and Warsaw. (The data, based on cardmember spending, shows that the most-booked cities are still London, Paris and Rome.)

The shifting emphasis toward secondary cities largely reflects surging prices in Mediterranean hotspots like the Amalfi Coast as well as record heat on the continent, say industry experts. Soaring inflation put average luxury room rates in Europe above $1,700 in 2023, according to data from Virtuoso, a luxury travel adviser group—almost double 2019’s $900 figure. These record rates are set to climb by an additional 9% this summer, says Misty Belles, Virtuoso’s vice president for global public relations. This is affecting where people choose to book, she says. 

“We’re seeing a desire to go to locations or destinations where the rates aren’t so exorbitant,” Belles explains, confirming Chase’s findings. “If you can’t afford Italy, or France or some of the traditional destinations, Belgium is going to be better value.” A search on Google Hotels shows rooms at five-star hotels in Brussels available for less than $500 during the first week of June; in Paris, the price is closer to $900.

Belles also says that travelers are willing to try alternate destinations in the face of Europe’s heat waves. Last year was the continent’s second-warmest on record, and each month of 2024 has brought further records. With the mercury having risen to 118F in places like Sardinia last summer, 75F average highs in Zurich look awfully appealing. 

And that’s without considering the crowds.

“Last summer, Europe was so very crowded, on top of being unbelievably hot,” says Belles. The combination has made more people seek destinations further north in Europe, she explains, with bookings at Virtuoso to the Netherlands up 33%, bookings to Austria up 31% and those to Germany 26%.

“Don’t worry about Italy, it’s going to be fine,” Belles says. “But other parts of Europe are starting to attract significant numbers.”

One place where growth has triggered concern is Amsterdam. The city ranks fifth among Chase’s fastest-growing destination cities, despite tourism figures that led the government to launch a “stay away”campaign to discourage mass tourism. 

Rebecca Masri, founder of luxury travel app Little Emperors, has a solution for those dead set on returning to old favorites despite prices, weather and crowds: Go after Labor Day. After all, she says, the traditional European summer season no longer feels as if it ends in August. 

As she puts it, “Our high season for places like Italy and Greece is now September.” 

Here is a list of the fastest-growing summer destinations among Europe’s cities, should you wish to take Masri’s advice.

Europe’s Fastest-Growing Urban Destinations 

• Brussels (73% year-on-year growth)
• Munich (63%)
• Zurich (59%)
• Warsaw (55%)
• Amsterdam (54%)
• Vienna (53%)
• Shannon, Ireland (53%)
• Zagreb, Croatia (51%)
• Prague (49%)
• Budapest (48%)

Source: Chase Travel

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