Beautiful cities to visit in Europe?
📋 My top picks to remember: My most beautiful cities in Europe after visiting about thirty: Lisbon (tram 28, Alfama), Prague (UNESCO old town), Florence (Renaissance and gastronomy), Edinburgh (Royal Mile, castle), Rome, Vienna, and Stockholm in summer. Average budget 70-120 €/day depending on the city (Scandinavia more expensive, Eastern Europe cheaper). The decisive criterion: charm/crowd/price ratio.
I will try to limit my choices because there are really many beautiful cities. In this article, I will only talk about the major cities to visit and give you some information. They are all beautiful cities and not just country capitals.
There are also small towns worth visiting but I will write another article for that.
My best European cities to visit
I highly recommend visiting Paris in France, which for me is one of the most interesting cities in the world with history, art, gastronomy, and very important culture within the city. Also stop by Lyon, which is a hub for quite a few other French cities.
Europe has a huge number of countries, I will make an exception and name many European cities to visit, I will give you my top 5, the best cities for me.
Everyone can have a different opinion on the destination depending on their experience.
- Barcelona in Catalonia, it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe where you need at least a week to visit the tourist attractions (Park Guell, Gaudi’s house, the great church Sagrada Familia, etc.) or to enjoy the beach (Barceloneta for example).
It is a city I love and is very easy to access from France with low-cost airline flights or from the south of France.
You can also go to less touristy places like Badalona.
🌍 Did you know?
The historic center of Prague is UNESCO-listed over 866 hectares, one of the largest protected areas in the world. Spared from bombing during World War II (unlike Dresden or Warsaw), it preserves an almost intact architectural heritage from the 14th to the 18th century.
You can try the culinary specialties (Tapas, Sangria, paella or Barcelona ham, etc).
Tourist activity: 3/3
Cost of living: 2/3
Nightlife: 3/3
What I don’t like about Barcelona: La Rambla, the most touristy street in Barcelona.
What I like about Barcelona: the Tapas and the weather, the climate is always good.
- Berlin in Germany is a city with a lot of history and the main activities in this city are museums (Jewish, GDR, Museum Island, etc.), strolling through the historic neighborhoods.
It is a city where I could see myself living for a few years because there are interesting start-ups.
If you like nightlife, it is an ideal place to party.
In winter, Berlin is also a place to go for Christmas markets.
Tourist activity: 3/3
Cost of living: 2/3
Nightlife: 3/3
What I did not like about Berlin: the colors of the city are dull. The city is pretty but lacks bright colors.
What I like about Berlin: the nightlife and the great cultural heritage
- Kiev in Ukraine, one of the most affordable destinations and one of the best deals in my selection.
The city has very modern architecture with churches like Saint Sophia or Saint Andrew, monuments and very interesting museums such as Chernobyl, the former president’s residence, or the Museum of the History of Ukraine.
It is a city where I could see myself living for several years because your purchasing power improves.
It has many facets. It is also the starting point for excursions to the famous place known as Chernobyl.
🗣️ My experience: My favorite remains Lisbon in April. 22°C, golden light on the azulejos, tram 28 climbing towards São Jorge Castle, and a warm pasteis de nata for €1.30 in Belém. 4 days for €380 all included from Paris. When asked which European city to visit first, I always answer: Lisbon.
There is also the Slavic style which gives tourists the impression that this place is different from other European cities.
| City | Highlight | Budget /day | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Tram 28, Alfama, pasteis | 70-100 € | Apr-Oct |
| Prague | Charles Bridge, Old Town | 50-80 € | May-Sept |
| Florence | Renaissance, gastronomy | 90-130 € | Apr-Jun, Sept |
| Rome | Colosseum, Vatican, ruins | 90-130 € | Apr-Jun, Sept-Oct |
| Edinburgh | Castle, old town | 80-120 € | May-Sept |
| Vienna | Imperial cafés, opera | 90-130 € | Apr-Sept |
| Stockholm | Archipelago, design | 110-150 € | Jun-Aug |
There is the best of both worlds: Eastern countries and a country that wants to join Europe
Tourist activity: 3/3
Cost of living: 3/3
Nightlife: 1/3
What I didn’t like about Kiev: the nightclubs are too flashy.
What I like about Kiev: the low cost of living
One of the underestimated European cities to visit in my opinion
- Budapest in Hungary is a very popular European city among tourists because you can relax peacefully in hot spring baths and thermal spas.
There are several tourist spots to visit scattered around the city such as the Fishermen’s Bastion, the parliament district, or Varosliget Park. You feel less overwhelmed by tourists than in Prague.
There are also some city viewpoints not to be missed (see photos).
Moreover, Budapest’s nightlife is very lively with ruin bars that are an attraction in themselves, and you can also take a cruise on the Danube.
🍀 European city-break
- Short (2-4 days), relaxing
- Low-cost flights from 60 €
- Exceptional cultural heritage
- No jet lag
🔻 Limitations
- Crowds in capitals during summer
- Expensive hotels in high season
- Touristy restaurants to avoid
- Pickpockets in crowded areas
Tourist activity: 3/3
Cost of living: 2/3
Nightlife: 3/3
What I did not like about Budapest: nothing
What I like about Budapest: The ruin bars
- Krakow in Poland, an old walled city with green and pedestrian areas and tourist attractions outside the city such as the salt mine or the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Krakow is also a university town, you can party there if you want.
You can try local specialties, stroll around the market square, the castles or along the Vistula, the main Polish river.
Tourist activity: 3/3
Cost of living: 2/3
Nightlife: 2/3
What I did not like about Krakow: You have to obey traffic lights or risk a fine.
What I like about Krakow: the historic side and the parks to stroll and read quietly.
These are all beautiful cities to visit in Europe where I could easily stay a week, in fact I spent at least 2 weeks several times in each of these cities and at a very affordable price.
Each city can cater to various audiences for trips: families with children, solo travelers, or friends for events (bachelor weekend, bachelor party, quiet weekend).
⚠️ Classic trap
Visiting Florence or Venice in July-August. Thick crowds, prices double, 2-hour lines at the Uffizi, stifling heat. Prefer April-May or September-October: same weather, prices 30-40% lower and less crowded sites. For Venice, go in November-February: magical misty atmosphere, 60% cheaper.
I also recommend:
- Malta, whose capital Valletta has unique architecture, the island has a cultural aspect and beautiful landscapes.
- London in England, to see Buckingham Palace and strolls around the city.
- Lisbon in Portugal, for its Pastéis de Nata.
- Brussels or Bruges in Belgium, for a visit to the city and the Atomium.
- Prague in the Czech Republic, for its castle and the very lively clock tower square.
- Rome in Italy, for its history, and it is an open-air museum city.
- Munich in Germany, for the museums and the very interesting region with its many castles.
- Amsterdam in the Netherlands, for the Van Gogh museum and to take a bike tour of the city.
These are all places for a weekend abroad or a short vacation of a few days to a week.
Europe is very accessible, you can visit several destinations over several weeks using train, bus, or even plane; this is really the advantage of Europe.
To optimize the budget, cheap destinations in Europe lists the most affordable cities. Weekend ideas in Europe offers short inspirations. And how to get around Europe compares bus, train, and low-cost options.
There are several regions in Spain and Italy where you absolutely must travel, such as the Basque Country in northern Spain, Andalusia, Sicily, Veneto with Venice, Tuscany for example, to name just a few.
They could be part of my top 10 in Europe; I would not hesitate to go to these destinations if I had a free weekend.
