There’s no denying my coronary heart is in some ways in Europe. From the second I stepped foot on the continent to my first time, biting right into a croissant in Le Marais, there are such a lot of instances I’ve scattered items of my coronary heart round this continent. And I’m satisfied Europe is at all times calling me dwelling. However as for probably the most lovely cities in Europe, I can’t decide only a few.
Europe is stuffed with fascinating cities. From capital cities like Budapest and Prague to the smaller cities of Alesund and Bruges. There are such a lot of defining moments and “aha!” moments I’ve had on my solo adventures throughout Europe. For those who’re something like me and search out one of the best, you’ve come to the suitable place. That is my definitive checklist of probably the most lovely cities in Europe.
Put up up to date April 2023.
Essentially the most lovely cities in Europe
1. Florence, Italy
The capital of Italy’s area of Tuscany is usually considered one of the crucial lovely cities on the earth. After visiting a handful of instances over time, I’ve gotta say I wholeheartedly agree. Florence is dwelling to a lot residing historical past from the Renaissance interval. You’ll be forgiven for giving your self whiplash as you attempt to look in each path and soak all of it in! Past the Cathedral and the Ponte Vecchio, remember to permit time to get off the primary vacationer thoroughfare. As quickly as you stroll throughout one of many many bridges, an entire different world awaits. Outdoors of town centre, you’ll be able to uncover public parks, libraries, and smaller artwork galleries.
2. Vienna, Austria
There are few cities I can say evaluate to the fantastic thing about Paris however Vienna is one such metropolis that comes shut. It has been described to me as a cleaner model of the French capital and having visited each plenty of instances, I can’t argue with that. The espresso home tradition is nevertheless my favorite side of Vienna. It has a method of transporting you to a earlier period with how stuffy and old-fashioned it’s. However by some means it is usually affectionately welcomed with open arms. Even for the youthful era, espresso homes are on pattern!
Learn extra: The central European trifecta: Visiting Vienna, Prague and Budapest
3. Edinburgh, Scotland
I’ve mentioned it earlier than and I’ll stand by it time after time, Edinburgh must be one of the crucial underrated cities in Europe, if not probably the most. There’s one thing so magical and ethereal about this metropolis that wins the hearts of many (myself included) virtually immediately or in my case, earlier than you even arrive. Bonus: there are a bunch of Harry Potter places within the metropolis. That is the place J. Ok. Rowling herself wrote a lot of her work in cafes, drawing inspiration from places all through Edinburgh.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is undeniably one of the crucial charming cities to go to the world over. With a singular mixture of gothic, romanesque and renaissance architectures, this metropolis has countless magnificence. The Previous City is abuzz with guests any time of yr. Subsequently if you’re attempting to flee the crowds, get off the crushed path. Lots of my favorite finds in Prague can’t be present in guidebooks.
5. Munich, Germany
Visiting Germany for the primary time is a feast for the senses. However when you’re searching for probably the most lovely German metropolis to go to, look no additional than Munich. This romantic metropolis within the South of Germany is characterised by its beer halls, cafe tradition and charming structure that makes town lovely regardless of the altering seasons. Yr-round that is one in all our prime picks for probably the most lovely cities in Europe.
6. Bruges, Belgium
Bruges is a metropolis so lovely, you’d be forgiven for considering you had been in an actual life story guide. Generally regarded to as the most lovely metropolis in all of Europe, Bruges’ outdated world appeal has an authenticity that isn’t usually mimicked in cities when hoards of travellers discover out about its’ existence however – by some means – it’s managed to retain its’ appeal.
7. Verona, Italy
Whenever you arrive in Verona you would possibly move out in sheer disbelief of how a metropolis could be so darn lovely in such an informal, cool-girl kinda method. Verona is claimed to be the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet (though it’s price mentioning it is a contentious declare), nevertheless you’ll quickly see how the hearsay began whenever you spend greater than 5 minutes within the place.
8. Annecy, France
Annecy is the sort of postcard city you suppose wouldn’t exist in actual life however talking from expertise I can say with certainty that it’s much more lovely in particular person (onerous to imagine, I do know!) Situated within the southeast of France, town overlooks Lake Annecy, has its’ personal system of waterways and isn’t removed from the alps, leaving it with a pinch-me backdrop to make it much more ethereal.
9. Budapest, Hungary
A metropolis as pretty as Budapest, it’s no surprise the Hungarian capital has develop into a sizzling spot for travellers doing the loop round Europe. Only a three-hour practice trip from Vienna, Budapest is a vital cease in central Europe not just for its distinctive and engaging historical past but additionally for its grandeur and sweetness that might rival even Paris. The town is sprawling however principally walkable, as a lot of the sights are centred across the Danube. Remember to enterprise over the river to Buda and go to Fortress Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion for one of the best views of town from above.
10. Barcelona, Spain
It didn’t take me lengthy to fall in love with Barcelona, one in all Europe’s most vibrant cities. Stuffed with color, magnificent Gaudi structure and a number of the finest meals you’ll discover throughout Europe (patatas bravas anybody!?), there’s a lot to like about this metropolis. So far as magnificence goes, you’ll be able to’t beat the countless architectural marvels in Barcelona – its an image good postcard ready to occur.
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is one in all Europe’s most visited cities and for good motive. As soon as often known as the weed capital of the world (California’s legalisation and people who adopted swimsuit has kinda dulled it down), Amsterdam has a full of life enchantment that draws younger travellers with magnetic drive. With its canals and well-known canal homes, that is simply one of the crucial lovely cities in all of Europe.
12. Paris, France
For those who’ve been on this weblog earlier than, you’ll know first hand that my obsession with Paris is actual. As actual because it will get. For those who can see Paris by the lens of the 1950’s, you’ll fall much more in love with town of sunshine – stuffed with tradition, artwork and a residing literary historical past by its many cafes, bars, streets and sidewalks which have appeared within the works of the misplaced era.
13. Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is a kind of cities I knew I’d fall head over heels in love with however for one motive or one other, it took me a while earlier than I lastly visited Greece. This occasion centre is as enjoyable as it’s lovely – however for one of the best of Mykonos, remember to discover within the early hours of the morning earlier than the crowds take to the streets.
14. Valletta, Malta
I didn’t spend sufficient time in Malta however I’m itching to return. This nation is stuffed with lovely structure, a powerful historical past, and a number of the loveliest locals you’ll meet – they’re proud to name Malta dwelling they usually can’t wait to share it with you. Valletta, the capital, is on the coronary heart of this nation and having been established in 1500, is as outdated because it appears to be like.
15. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is likely one of the prettiest seaside cities and as basic as Nordic cities come. Nyhaven, the gathering of vibrant homes by the ocean, is one in all Europe’s most photographed spots and for good motive – it appears to be like too lovely to be actual! Nonetheless there’s rather more of this metropolis to find whenever you enterprise in to town streets – castles, whimsical gardens and Danish pastries are just the start.
16. Stockholm, Sweden
After I visited Stockholm for the primary time I knew it wouldn’t be the final. The capital of Sweden is so charming and quaint that you just’d be forgiven for forgetting it is a metropolis of virtually a million inhabitants. The town encompasses 14 islands and thus a lot of it’s surrounded by water – related by bridges and illuminating effortlessly within the setting solar.
17. Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is Europe’s fairytale city: the one and solely metropolis the place you easy can not, at any flip inside the Previous City Partitions, be surrounded by what looks like magic. There’s an authentic chemist promoting unicorn mud, for a begin.
18. Alesund, Norway
Whenever you hear individuals speak of the prettiest metropolis in Norway you by no means actually hear them say Alesund. I’m altering that. Having had Bergen on my bucket checklist for fairly a while, I used to be shocked to see the unbelievable Artwork Nouveau structure of Alesund. And fairly frankly, I used to be surprised that I had not stumbled upon it sooner. Having rebuilt after a fireplace in 1904, town has managed to retain its authenticity and appeal with ease.
19. Seville, Spain
Like most cities positioned on a physique of water, Seville has a way of romanticism about it that breeds a kind of magnificence indescribable by phrases alone. The town is about alongside the Guadalquivir river, characterised by slender winding streets and Arabic affect. This mixture of cultures and centuries makes it one of the crucial lovely cities in Europe and definitely amongst the highest three most lovely cities in Spain.
20. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is likely one of the most lovely cities in all of Switzerland and simply by pictures alone, it isn’t onerous to see why. This metropolis if charming with an consideration to element like no different.
21. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon continues to be one in all my favorite cities in Western Europe, regardless of turning into one of the crucial standard and trending cities im Europe over current years (thanks partly to how reasonably priced it’s!) The town is bursting with color and life at each flip, particularly within the neighbourhood of Alfama.
22. Strasbourg, France
I wasn’t anticipating to like Strasbourg practically as a lot as I did and as such, thought of it a stopover metropolis en path to Colmar within the Alsace area. Nonetheless this must be one in all Europe’s most underrated, prettiest cities. Bordering Germany, the French metropolis has a singular mix of structure that you just gained’t discover elsewhere.
23. Ghent, Belgium
Ghent will steal your coronary heart right away. This college metropolis is an fascinating one: outdated in appears to be like however younger at coronary heart, with a thriving scholar inhabitants that make this a extremely enjoyable metropolis to go to. Solely a brief practice trip from Bruges, I’d argue when you’re visiting one you need to go to the opposite: they’re each so comparable however but so totally different!
24. Rome, Italy
I’ll always remember the primary time I visited Rome. It was with my father at 17 years of age and maybe the single-most metropolis I keep in mind most: each element. We had been each visiting Europe for the primary time and had been in awe of the historical past – a lot in order that it virtually looks like a dream wanting again. We spent every week exploring the sights and consuming our method right into a carb-induced coma and I can say with certainty there’s just one factor I’d do in another way: put on higher strolling sneakers.
25. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik grew to become actually standard round 5-6 years in the past and has solely elevated in reputation since turning into one of many most important taking pictures places for HBO’s Recreation of Thrones. This metropolis is as fairly as a postcard with an idyllic location on the seaside – a mixture that may’t be crushed!
26. Warsaw, Poland
Regardless of being the capital, Warsaw is just not the primary metropolis many travellers consider when visiting Poland. I too had fallen into this lure and regarded Krakow the one metropolis I desperately needed to go to on my first time within the nation some ten years in the past. Because it seems, Warsaw is simply as (if no more) lovely to discover and has an exquisite outdated city that involves life over the Christmas interval.
27. Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik was a lot smaller than I anticipated but additionally extra lovely than I may have imagined. The individuals particularly are extraordinarily pleasant and pleased with their nation, wanting to be taught the place you might be from and what introduced you to Iceland. Wandering the streets on foot is one of the best ways to get round, simply remember to permit your self to get misplaced – as that is the place the magic occurs!
28. Venice, Italy
This checklist wouldn’t be full with out Venice, one in all Europe’s most visited and wanted cities to go to. The sinking metropolis is claimed to have a time restrict in place, so remember to make it a precedence if you wish to see it earlier than it goes!
29. Antwerp, Belgium
After I arrived in Antwerp I wasn’t certain what to anticipate as a result of fairly frankly, I hadn’t heard a factor about it. Because it seems this was one in all my favorite cities to find in Belgium: stuffed with younger individuals, extraordinarily trendy and enjoyable to trip a motorcycle round. The town centre is gorgeous to walk round and you possibly can spend not less than a few days doing simply that.
30. London, United Kingdom
London will at all times be one of the crucial lovely cities in Europe and there’s no denying it has earned its title as one of many world’s most visited cities yr after yr. For the royal followers (myself included) there’s a lot to see and do in help of the royal household, or you’ll be able to merely spend a number of hours strolling the streets of Mayfair pretending to be posh (not a nasty method to move time when you’re so inclined!)
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