My Top 10 Favourite European Cities

I’ve spent the past couple of years visiting a lot of European cities, adding to an ever-growing list that I’ve been working through for years before that. From history and culture to food and architecture, as well as quirky pubs and unique attractions, cities around Europe have endless fun to offer. Best of all, most of them are easy to see in a weekend, so from the UK it’s really simple to hop over somewhere just for a couple of days. We really are lucky in that regard, and being from a remote island in the north of Scotland it’s not something I take for granted!

I’ve been putting this post off for a while though, because I know as soon as I post it, I’ll most likely find another one to add to the list. And how many cities do you need to have visited before you can say with some certainty that these are your favourites?

With only five European countries left to visit, and no cities that are really high up on my list, it felt like a safe bet to finally write this. There could end up being surprise cities that I visit that would make it onto this list, but it’s unlikely to change dramatically.

This post contains affiliate links. Please note if you buy or book anything through my links, I may earn a little commission that helps keep this site running, at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

So here we go, my – dare I say it – ultimate list of my favourite European cities!

1. Budapest, Hungary

Far and away, one of my favourite cities in the world is Budapest. Along with Lisbon, there’s a solid fight for the top spot within Europe, but I think the spa baths and ruin bars of Budapest just give it the edge. The Parliament building is also one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I’ve ever seen, while Fisherman’s Bastions feels straight out of a fairytale.

When it comes to regional food around Europe, I don’t often think of Hungarian food, and yet langos is one of my favourites of all.

It’s also very welcoming and liberal, despite what’s happening in the news with the politics in Hungary. On my most recent trip, I saw lots of pro-LGBT signs as well as people protesting for women’s rights in Iran.

I’ve now been to Budapest twice and loved it both times. I really want to go back with a group of friends as it’s the perfect place to go out for a few drinks and then nurse a hangover in the baths.

Read more: Three Days In Fairytale Budapest, One Of My Favourite Cities

2. Lisbon, Portugal

If it’s vibes and views I’m after, I’d look no further than Lisbon.

I’d go to Budapest for dinner and Lisbon for dessert – there is nothing better than a pastel de nata from Lisboa!

Every time I walk around Lisbon, I find so many great things, whether it’s tiled buildings, churches, viewpoints or interesting restaurants. I’ve seen loads of fantastic buskers which just add to the atmosphere, and I can’t think of a better city sunset. There are also fairytale palaces (serious fairytale palaces), a spectacular monastery, and gorgeous beaches just minutes away.

I adore Portugal so it feels like this should be number one – after all, I’ve never been anywhere else in Hungary. But we are going purely by cities, so Lisbon is a very close second.

Read more: Loving Lisbon: A Perfect 3 Day Itinerary

3. Edinburgh, Scotland

Am I allowed to include where I live? Because there’s a reason we moved here. And I still absolutely love it!

Edinburgh is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with the castle looming over the main shopping street, surrounded by gardens. Edinburgh is one of the UK’s greenest cities, in fact, which is just one of many things I love about it. Hiking a volcano? A viewpoint in a park right over the centre of town? Botanical gardens? Edinburgh has everything!

But the first thing I loved about it wasn’t the parks; it was the architecture. Edinburgh is simply a stunning city. I mean, I’ve lived here for six years now, and last week I walked up the Royal Mile for the first time in ages, and I was like “geez, this really is a beautiful place”. Then this week I missed my bus home and took my 2,578th photo of Edinburgh Castle and it was so pretty that I put it on Facebook. You’d think I’d be bored of it by now!

And then there are the beaches. Yep, Edinburgh actually has some great beaches, including one that expands so much at low tide that you can walk out to an island! It’s a city that really has everything, while still being a nice size.

Read more: My Highlights Of Edinburgh

4. Seville, Spain

It took me a while to find somewhere in Spain that I really loved, but Seville came crashing in and I was smitten.

I actually only spent a day in Seville, so it seems mad that this would be #4 on the list. But honestly, eight years later, Plaza de Espana remains the most stunning European town square I’ve ever seen (only challenged by Brussels, and I’m not a massive fan of the city outside of that). And I still look back fondly on wandering through alleyways for an hour before realising I was totally lost – and also realising that I didn’t care, because I was enjoying it so much.

Home to flamenco and with plenty of tapas and sangria on offer along very pretty streets, Seville has a fantastic atmosphere to complement its beautiful architecture. I just loved my whole time there, even if it was brief, and I’m hoping to see more of Andalusia on a future trip.

Read more: A Day In Beautiful Seville, Spain

5. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenia is probably already one of my favourite countries in Europe, and a large part of that is down to how much we loved the capital, Ljubljana.

This perfect pint-sized city suits me well, as I’m not a big fan of massive cities. It’s laid back, unbelievably pretty, cheap, friendly, and every meal we had there was incredible. Like, stand-out fantastic. There’s even a pirate-themed rum bar! Just great times all around.

It’s also a stone’s throw away from some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, with the underrated Julian Alps on its doorstep, and of course picture-perfect Lake Bled. Whenever scenery is the highlight of a country (Norway, Switzerland…) I don’t tend to love the cities anywhere near as much – but this isn’t the case with Ljubljana, which was as much a highlight of Slovenia for us as everything else.

This is 100% somewhere I’d like to go back to, and in fact I came away feeling like I could stay for a month. It’s not often a city has that effect on me!

Read more: Slovenia: Loving Ljubljana & Visiting Lake Bled In March

6. Venice, Italy

I’m not including many of Europe’s most touristy cities – not because they’re bad, but they’re generally just not my favourites – but Venice has to make the cut. It’s such a unique place that I can’t think of anywhere else in the world like it, so it’s no wonder it’s popular. I have to be honest – I never thought I’d love it as much as I do.

I just love wandering Venice, and what surprised me on my last visit was that we managed to get relatively “off the beaten path”, if that’s such a thing there.

Outside of the tourist areas and the Grand Canal, there are just so many side canals to wander, and areas just far enough that the crowds thin out. Even turning a few corners can lead to empty streets.

Once you find it, there’s a kind of magic there that can’t be replicated, and that’s what makes it special to me.

Read more: Highlights Of Venice – On & Off The Beaten Path

7. Gdansk, Poland

I had to think long and hard about this one, because there are really two Polish cities that could have claimed this spot. Perhaps even three. But if I think about it in terms of which city I’d return to first out of Gdansk, Wroclaw or Krakow, it would be Gdansk.

I LOVED our little trip to Wroclaw last year. One of the highlights of our day was searching for all the dwarf statues! Loved it. Loved the vibe. The Old Town is absolutely beautiful. The food is brilliant. Just overall an excellent city.

Gdansk, however, had a lot that I loved about Wroclaw, with a nicer waterfront and an even better Old Town. Around every corner we stumbled across yet more lovely architecture. We visited both for Christmas markets, and to be honest Wroclaw’s were better, but Gdansk’s were great, too.

Gdansk also has one of the best museums I’ve ever been to, which surprised us: the WW2 museum. Plus it’s very easy to get away to the beach in nearby Sopot, making it a bit more than a standard city break.

Read more: A Getaway In Gorgeous Gdansk: Gates, Museums & Christmas Markets

8. Riga, Latvia

Ah, Riga. Not a surprise that I loved you, at all.

This was another Christmas market trip, though I imagine it would be just as lovely in the summer. Oozing with charm, Riga’s Old Town is one of my favourites in the whole of Europe and I loved wandering all the streets.

Outside the Old Town is just as great, with some of the best streets I’ve ever seen for art nouveau architecture.

There are loads of quirky things to do here, which knowing me contributes heavily to why I love it so much. Having lunch inside a zeppelin hangar? Stumbling across an amazing Orthodox cathedral or a pink church? Visiting bunnies and ponies at the Christmas markets? Finding the above epic view? All highlights.

Read more: How To Spend A Festive Winter Weekend In Riga, Latvia

9. London, England

Originally, London wasn’t on this list. It seemed silly not including it, but I thought I may be adding it for the familiarity factor, or for all the memories I have there that aren’t necessarily because it’s London. Certainly I’ve visited London far more than any other city in the world. I’ve become very familiar with it, and in that, with what I love about it.

Because when I think about it, London is one of the best cities in the world. It’s got SO much going on. It’s packed with history, both light and dark, it’s home to lots of iconic sights, and it’s got a ton of fun nightlife. There are countless brilliant markets to explore, endless neighbourhoods, fantastic street art, and loads of character that couldn’t be anywhere but London. It’s also so easy to get around, and having traversed public transport in many major cities across the world, the London underground is simply unbeatable.

It’s one of those places I love to visit, but could never live. And it’s not just a cost thing – that’s the one downside of visiting too, as hotels are prohibitively expensive. Even so, I am constantly adding places to my list to see “next time”, so in the end London had to make the list.

Read more: Off-Beat London: A Quirky Weekend In The Capital

10. Stockholm, Sweden

Now this one’s a stretch, because I only spent a few hours in Stockholm – and most of that was below ground!

I expected to feel indifferent to Stockholm. I visited for a couple of reasons that were unrelated to Stockholm as a city: the metro station art, and the jumbo jet hotel.

And yet, I ended up having some time to wander the city centre and the Old Town before I headed back to the airport, and I was surprised to find that I loved everything I saw, and wished I had more time! But also I knew that Ash wants to return, so I’m happy to save everything else for a return visit.

We’ll definitely be going back at some point, not least to check out the Vasa Museum. My dreams of staying in the cockpit of the jumbo jet have been crushed, as at the time of writing it has closed down!! Absolutely gutted.

Anyway, I feel first impressions can count for a lot, and I’m not just taking my own word for it either, as everyone I know who’s visited properly has raved about it. Weirdly, it’s one of the most unanimous opinions I’ve ever heard about a city!

Read more: Discovering The Incredible Metro Station Art In Stockholm

Honourable mentions: Tallinn, Ghent, Sofia, Colmar, Krakow

First up, I’ve got to say Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, as a beautiful medieval city with plenty going on. This moved up my list after a second visit, because I had the chance to explore the industrial Telliskivi Creative City, visit some of the fantastic medieval taverns, and after many recommendations from friends who all cite Tallinn as one of their favourite cities, try the most delicious pancakes ever. >> Read more here!

And in Belgium, Ghent is just gorgeous and very underrated when it’s so close to Bruges. It also has one of my favourite pubs ever – where you can drink a yard of ale, but only if you allow one of your shoes to be hoisted up to the ceiling in a bucket until you give back the glass! >> Read more here!

One you might not expect to get a mention: Sofia is a seriously underrated city, but it was a highlight of my Balkans trip. I loved the vibe, and it’s in a perfect position to explore some of Bulgaria’s mountains including the stunning Rila Monastery. It’s got some great nightlife as well as Roman ruins. >> Read more here!

Colmar didn’t quite make the list, mostly because it doesn’t feel like a city (in fact it seems to be described as a “town” and a “city” interchangeably). This postcard-perfect gingerbread house town (city?) in France is one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been in my life, and I absolutely loved it. >> Read more here!

(If you don’t think Colmar counts, I could happily add Vienna as the most beautiful city in Europe. It’s not one of my favourites overall, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to architecture and culture.)

And finally, a special shout out to another Polish city: Krakow. There’s loads to do in Krakow, with fun bars in the Jewish Quarter and silly attractions like the infamous Wax Museum, as well as “proper” attractions like Wawel Castle and Schindler’s Factory. Basically another beautiful city with a great mix of important history and a much-needed fun side. It’s somewhere I’d go back to in an instant. >> Read more here!

Needless to say, there are tons of great cities in Europe! I am sure I’ll be discovering them for a long time yet.

What are some of your favourite European cities?