The 30 Most Stunning Cities in Europe
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. When you’re something like me and hunt down one of the best, you’ve come to the suitable place. That is my definitive record of probably the most lovely cities in Europe.
Submit up to date April 2023.
Essentially the most lovely cities in Europe
1. Florence, Italy
The capital of Italy’s area of Tuscany is often considered some of the lovely cities on this planet. After visiting a handful of instances through the years, 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 route and soak all of it in! Past the Cathedral and the Ponte Vecchio, make sure you 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 the 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 great 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 numerous instances, I can’t argue with that. The espresso home tradition is nonetheless my favorite facet of Vienna. It has a approach of transporting you to a earlier period with how stuffy and old skool it’s. However someway it’s also affectionately welcomed with open arms. Even for the youthful era, espresso homes are on development!
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 some of the 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 some of the charming cities to go to the world over. With a singular mixture of gothic, romanesque and renaissance architectures, this metropolis has infinite magnificence. The Previous City is abuzz with guests any time of 12 months. Subsequently if you’re attempting to flee the crowds, get off the crushed path. A lot 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 should you’re on the lookout 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 the town lovely regardless of the altering seasons. Yr-round that is one among our high 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 have been in an actual life story guide. Generally regarded to as the most lovely metropolis in all of Europe, Bruges’ previous world appeal has an authenticity that isn’t usually mimicked in cities when hoards of travellers discover out about its’ existence however – someway – it’s managed to retain its’ appeal.
7. Verona, Italy
If you arrive in Verona you may move out in sheer disbelief of how a metropolis will be so darn lovely in such an informal, cool-girl kinda approach. Verona is alleged to be the birthplace of Romeo and Juliet (though it’s value mentioning it is a contentious declare), nonetheless you’ll quickly see how the hearsay began if you spend greater than 5 minutes within the place.
8. Annecy, France
Annecy is the form 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 individual (arduous to imagine, I do know!) Positioned within the southeast of France, the 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 beautiful as Budapest, it’s no marvel the Hungarian capital has change into a sizzling spot for travellers doing the loop round Europe. Only a three-hour practice trip from Vienna, Budapest is a necessary cease in central Europe not just for its distinctive and interesting historical past but additionally for its grandeur and wonder that would rival even Paris. The town is sprawling however principally walkable, as a lot of the points of interest are centred across the Danube. Be sure you enterprise over the river to Buda and go to Fort Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion for one of the best views of the town from above.
10. Barcelona, Spain
It didn’t take me lengthy to fall in love with Barcelona, one among Europe’s most vibrant cities. Filled with color, magnificent Gaudi structure and a few 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 infinite architectural marvels in Barcelona – its an image good postcard ready to occur.
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is one among Europe’s most visited cities and for good cause. As soon as often called the weed capital of the world (California’s legalisation and those who adopted go well with has kinda dulled it down), Amsterdam has a full of life attraction that draws younger travellers with magnetic drive. With its canals and well-known canal homes, that is simply some of the lovely cities in all of Europe.
12. Paris, France
When you’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. When you can see Paris by means of the lens of the 1950’s, you’ll fall much more in love with the town of sunshine – filled with tradition, artwork and a residing literary historical past by means of 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 cause or one other, it took me a while earlier than I lastly visited Greece. This get together centre is as enjoyable as it’s lovely – however for one of the best of Mykonos, make sure you 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 few of the loveliest locals you’ll meet – they’re proud to name Malta dwelling and so they 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 previous because it appears to be like.
15. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is among the prettiest seaside cities and as traditional as Nordic cities come. Nyhaven, the gathering of vibrant homes by the ocean, is one among Europe’s most photographed spots and for good cause – it appears to be like too lovely to be actual! Nonetheless there’s rather more of this metropolis to find if you enterprise in to the town streets – castles, whimsical gardens and Danish pastries are only 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 just about a million inhabitants. The town encompasses 14 islands and thus a lot of it’s surrounded by water – linked 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 seems like magic. There’s an unique chemist promoting unicorn mud, for a begin.
18. Alesund, Norway
If you hear individuals discuss 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 record for fairly a while, I used to be shocked to see the unimaginable Artwork Nouveau structure of Alesund. And fairly frankly, I used to be shocked that I had not stumbled upon it sooner. Having rebuilt after a hearth in 1904, the 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 slim winding streets and Arabic affect. This mixture of cultures and centuries makes it some of the lovely cities in Europe and definitely amongst the highest three most lovely cities in Spain.
20. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is among the most lovely cities in all of Switzerland and simply by taking a look at photographs alone, it isn’t arduous to see why. This metropolis if charming with an consideration to element like no different.
21. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon continues to be one among my favorite cities in Western Europe, regardless of changing into some of the common and trending cities im Europe over latest 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 almost as a lot as I did and as such, thought-about it a stopover metropolis en path to Colmar within the Alsace area. Nonetheless this must be one among 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 straight away. This college metropolis is an attention-grabbing one: previous in appears to be like however younger at coronary heart, with a thriving pupil inhabitants that make this a extremely enjoyable metropolis to go to. Solely a brief practice trip from Bruges, I’d argue should 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 bear in mind most: each element. We have been each visiting Europe for the primary time and have been in awe of the historical past – a lot in order that it virtually seems like a dream wanting again. We spent every week exploring the sights and consuming our approach 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 footwear.
25. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik turned actually common round 5-6 years in the past and has solely elevated in recognition since changing into one of many fundamental 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 mix that may’t be crushed!
26. Warsaw, Poland
Regardless of being the capital, Warsaw isn’t the primary metropolis many travellers consider when visiting Poland. I too had fallen into this lure and regarded Krakow the one metropolis I desperately wished 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 previous 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 might have imagined. The individuals specifically are extraordinarily pleasant and happy with their nation, desirous to be taught the place you might be from and what introduced you to Iceland. Wandering the streets on foot is one of the simplest ways to get round, simply make sure you permit your self to get misplaced – as that is the place the magic occurs!
28. Venice, Italy
This record wouldn’t be full with out Venice, one among Europe’s most visited and wanted cities to go to. The sinking metropolis is alleged to have a time restrict in place, so make sure you 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 among my favorite cities to find in Belgium: filled with younger individuals, extraordinarily modern and enjoyable to trip a motorcycle round. The town centre is gorgeous to walk round and you can spend at the least a few days doing simply that.
30. London, United Kingdom
London will at all times be some of the lovely cities in Europe and there’s no denying it has earned its title as one of many world’s most visited cities 12 months after 12 months. 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 just a few hours strolling the streets of Mayfair pretending to be posh (not a foul technique to move time should you’re so inclined!)
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