Vienna

The Cities

So, you ask, what cities should I visit? Maybe you have talked with people and heard the stories of their visits, and this has stirred your curiosity and imagination. Through the years you have read or heard about historical events and want to see and experience the actual place where these events occurred. You may be curious about your family’s ancestors and where they came from before immigrating to America. Depending on your interests, some cities may become more attractive for you to visit.

When one thinks of cities in Europe, these are most likely the names that roll off a person’s lips first. These are some of Europe’s most visited as well as, interesting and famous cities. They are absolutely a must to see when visiting a particular country. They typically are the largest and in most instances the capitol of a country. Most at one time or even now, served as the centers of commerce, education and cultural of their regions or countries. In some cases, some were the political home of great empires that held dominion across Europe and the world. Their rich history, culture and attractions make them the reason why they are visited more than any of the others. 

Europe’s Top City Destinations…

These are Europe’s top cities to visit for many reasons and should always be at the top of anyone’s to see list. There are many more worth visiting and in fact like other travelers may find ones more interesting for multiple reasons. Go to our ➾ More Classical Cities page for a comprehensive list and suggestions.

Find your city of interests on the list and click on the information links. The cities listed here have their own city page with detailed information:

Paris
Amsterdam
madrid
Rome
London
munich
rome
berlin
barcelona
Prague
lisbon
Milan
vienna
frankfurt
dublin
stockholm
florence
athens
istanbul
venice
brussels
budapest
kraków
Warsaw
copenhagen
City, Country2016201720182019World
Rank
London, England, UK19,05919,82819,23319,5593
Paris, France13,92615,83417,56019,0876
Istanbul, Turkey9,21810,73013,43314,71510
Rome, Italy9,3539,53110,06510,31716
Prague, Czechia8,2008,8068,9489,15022
Amsterdam, Netherlands6,8987,8488,3548,83525
Barcelona, Spain6,5156,2886,7147,01633
Milan, Italy6,1756,3476,4816,60435
Vienna, Austria5,8676,1866,4106,63437
Berlin, Germany5,5595,6275,9596,19541
Athens, Greece4,5264,7975,7286,30143
Moscow, Russia4,5714,8005,5105,96945
Venice, Italy5,2125,3165,5025,59046
Madrid, Spain5,1315,2735,4405,59747
Dublin, Ireland4,8104,9865,2135,46250
Florence, Italy4,8444,9415,0595,12551
Munich, Germany3,3893,8294,0664,20556
St. Petersburg, Russia2,8403,6003,9964,45759
Brussels, Belgium2,5113,4303,9424,27660
Budapest, Hungary3,5113,6543,8224,02562
Lisbon, Portugal3,1363,5223,5393,63963
Heraklion, Greece2,8853,1473,3713,03466
Copenhagen, Denmark2,8872,9633,0693,18571
Kraków, Poland2,6502,8002,8502,91074
Warsaw, Poland2,7332,6302,7322,98083
Frankfurt am Main, Germany2,4062,4962,6362,72887
Stockholm, Sweden2,3272,4732,6042,72188
Nice, France2,1642,3272,4662,58292
Porto, Portugal1,9692,2322,3412,49196
Rhodes, Greece2,0912,1782,3372,41497
      
Cities in Europe by international arrivals for 2017, 2018 & 2019 in the millions. Sources are consulting firm Euromonitor for the top 100 cities in the world.

With so many wonderful cities spread across Europe it is very difficult to decide which to visit and which ones to miss. While these European cities may not always rank high on a travels wish list, they should to be given some serious consideration for a number of reasons . They have played vital roles in European history and it is captured in many of their museums. Old ruins, preserved and restored historic structures will add to an incredible ambience. They are often the best reflection of local or regional culture with their cuisine and traditions all on display. 

They also may not attract the hordes of tourists, like some of the more popular destination cities. This makes access to attractions, restaurants and shopping a more pleasant experience. All of this can lend a very rewarding visit. Listed below are the best of the rest European cities and towns that also deserve serious consideration when traveling in Europe.

AUSTRIA

GRAZ,  Styria, Austria

INNSBRUCK , TyrolAustria

LINZ, Upper Austria, Austria

SALZBURG, Salzburg, Austria

belarus

MINSK, Minsk Voblast, Belarus

belgium

ANTWERP, Antwerp Provence, Belgium

BRUGES, West Flanders, Belgium

GHENT, East Flanders, Belgium

LIÈGE, Wallonia, Belgium

LEUVEN, Flemish Brabant, Belgium

MECHELEN, Antwerp Provence, Belgium

MONS, Wallonia, Belgium

NAMUR, Wallonia, Belgium

bosnia & herzegovina

MOSTAR, Herzegovina-Neretva, Bosnia & Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, Bosnia & Herzegovina

bulgaria

PLOVDIV, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

SOFIA ,Sofia City, Bulgaria

croatia

DUBROVNIK, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Croatia

OPATIJA, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Croatia

PULA, Istria, Croatia

RIJEKA, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Croatia

ROVINJ, Istria, Croatia

SPLIT, Split-Dalmatia, Croatia

ZADAR, Zadar County, Croatia

ZAGREB, City of Zagreb, Croatia

cyprus

NICOSIA, Nicosia district, Cyprus

PAPHOS, Paphos district, Cyprus

czechia

BRNO, South Moravia, Czechia

ČESKÝ KRUMLOV, South Bohemian, Czechia

OLOMOUC, Olomouc District, Czechia

PLZEŇ, Plzeň district, Czechia

denmark

AALBORG, North Denmark Region, Denmark

AARHUS, Central Denmark Region, Denmark

ODENSE, Southern Region, Denmark

ROSKILDE, Zealand, Denmark

estonia

TALLINN, Harju County, Estonia

Finland

HELSINKI, Uusimaa, Finland

TAMPERE, Pirkanmaa, Finland

TURKU,Southwest Finland, Finland

France

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

AMIENS  , Somme, Haute-de-France, France

ANNECY, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

ARLES , Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

AVIGNON , Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

BIARRITZ , Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

BORDEAUX , Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

CANNES , Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

DIJON, Côte-d”Or, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

LA ROCHELLE , Charente-Maritime, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

LILLE , Nord, Hauts-de-France, France

LYON , Metro of Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

MARSEILLE, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

MONTPELLIER , Hérault, Occitanie, France

NANTES, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France

NICE, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

NÎMES, Gard, Occitaine, France

REIMS, Marne, Grand-Est, France

ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France

TOULON, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

TOULOUSE, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie France

TOURS, Indre-er-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France

STRASBOURG, Bas-Rhin, Grand-Est, France

Germany

AACHEN, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

AUGSBURG, Swabia, Bavaria, Germany

BEMEN, Bremen State, Germany

COLOGNE , North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

DORTMUND, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

DÜSSELDORF , North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

DRESDEN, Saxony, Germany

ESSEN , North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

HAMBURG, State of Hamburg, Germany

HANNOVER, Lower Saxony, Germany

HEIDELBERG , Baden-Württemberg, Germany

KARLSRUHE, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

NUREMBERG, Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

LEIPZIG, Saxony, Germany

LÜBECK, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

MAINZ, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

POTSDAM , Urban dist., Brandenburg, Germany

REGENSBURG, Urban dist., Bavaria, Germany

ROSTOCK, Mecklenburg–Vorpommern, Germany

STUTTGART, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

TRIER, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

WIESBADEN, Hesse, Germany

WÜRZBURG, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany

Greece

CHANIA, Crete, Greece

FIRÁ / SANTORINI, South Aegean, Thira, Greece

HERAKLION, Crete, Greece

PATRAS, Western Region, Achaea, Greece

RHODES,  South Aegean, Dodecanese, Greece

THESSALONIKI, Central Macedonia, Greece

Hungary

PÉCS, Southern Transdanubia, Baranya, Hungary

Iceland

REYKJAVÍK, Capital Region, Iceland

Ireland

CORK, Munster, County Cork, Ireland

GALWAY, Connacht, Ireland

LIMERICK, Munster, Ireland

WATERFORD, Munster, Ireland

italy

BOLOGNA, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

BOLZANO, Lombardy, Italy

GENOA, Liguria, Italy

LUCCA, Tuscany, Italy

MATERA, Basilicata, Italy

MESSINA, Sicily, Italy

NAPLES, Campania, Italy

MODENA, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

PADUA, Veneto, Italy

PALERMO, Sicily, Italy

PISA, Tuscany, Italy

RAVENNA, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

SORRENTO, Campania, Italy

SIENA, Tuscany, Italy

TURIN, Piedmont, Italy

VERONA, Veneto, Italy

latvia

RIGA, Latvia

lithuania

KAUNAS Kaunas County, Lithuania

VILNIUS, Vilnius City Muni., Lithuania

luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg

Malta

VALLETTA, South Eastern Region, Malta

monaco

MONTE CARLO, Monaco

montenegro

KOTOR, Kotor, Montenegro

PODGORICA, Podgorica Capital City, Montenegro

netherlands

THE HAGUE, South Holland, Netherlands

LEEUWARDEN, Friesland, Netherlands

DELFT, South Holland, Netherlands

MAASTRICHT, Limburg, Netherlands

ROTTERDAM, South Holland, Netherlands

UTRECHT, Utrecht Provence, Netherlands

north macedonia

OHRID, Southwestern, North Macedonia

SKOPJE, Greater Skopje, North Macedonia

norway

BERGEN, Midhordland, Vestland, Norway

OSLO, Østlandet, Norway

poland

GDAŃSK, Pomerania, Poland

KATOWICE, Silesian, Poland

ŁÓDŹ, Łódź, Poland

LUBLIN, Lublin, Poland

POZNAŃ, Greater Poland, Poland

TORUŃ, Pomerania, Poland

WARSAW, Masovia, Poland

WROCLAW, Lower Silesia, Poland

portugal

GUIMARÃRES, Braga, Portugal

PORTO, Norte, Grande Porto, Portugal

Romania

BRAŞOV, Braşov County, Romania

BUCHAREST, Bucharest Municipality, Romania

CLUJ-NAPOCA, Cluj, Romania

SIBIU, Sibiu Municipality, Romania

SIGHIŞOARA, Mureș, Romania

TIMIŞOARA, Timiş, Romania

Russia

MOSCOW, Moscow District, Russia

ST. PETERSBURG, Northwestern District, Russia

San Marino

CITTÀ SAN MARINO

Serbia

BELGRADE, Belgrade Dist., Serbia

NOVI SAD, Vojvodina, Serbia

Slovakia

BRATISLAVA, Bratislava Region, Slovakia

KOIŠCE, Koišce region, Slovakia

Slovenia

LJUBLJANA, City Muni. of Ljubljana, Slovenia

MARIBOR, Drava, Slovenia

Spain

A CORUÑA, Galicia, Spain

ÁVILA, Castile–León, Spain

BILBAO, Basque Country, Spain

CÓRDOBA, Andalusia, Spain

GIRONA, Catalonia, Spain

GRANADA, Andalusia, Spain

IBIZA, Balearic Islands, Spain

MÁLAGA, Andalusia, Spain

SALAMANCA, Castile and León, Spain

SAN SEBASTIÁN, Basque Country, Spain

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Galicia, Spain

SEGOVIA, Castile–León, Spain

SEVILLA, Andalusia, Spain

TOLEDO, Castile–La Mancha, Spain

VALENCIA, Valencian Comm., Valencia, Spain

ZARAGOZA, Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain

Sweden

MALMÖ, Skåne, Scania, Sweden

GOTHENBURG, Västra Götaland, Sweden

UMEÅ, Västerbotten County, Sweden

UPPSALA, Uppsala County, Sweden

Switzerland

BERN, Bern-Mittelland, Bern, Switzerland

GENÉVA, Genéva Canton, Switzerland

LAUSANNE, Vaud, Switzerland

LUCERNE, Lucerne, Switzerland

Ukriane

KYIV, Kyiv City Muni., Ukraine

LVIV, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine

ODESSA, Odessa Oblast, Ukraine

United Kingdom

BATH, Somerset, England / United Kingdom

BELFAST, Antrim County, Northern Ireland / United Kingdom

BIRMINGHAM, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

BRISTOL, Bristol County, England / United Kingdom

BRIGHTON, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom

GLASGOW, Scotland, United Kingdom

LIVERPOOL, Merseyside, England / United Kingdom

MANCHESTER, Greater Manchester, England / United Kingdom

NOTTINGHAM, East Midlands, England / United Kingdom

OXFORD, Oxfordshire, England / United Kingdom

YORK, North Yorkshire, England / United Kingdom

For some time now we have looked at how many tourists visit a city to determine which ones are the most popular. This is not always a good barometer for American’s as many Europeans flock to resort destinations like Antalya in Turkey, Mallorca in Spain or Rimini in Italy for vacations. This is not unlike American’s escaping the cold winter months for warm vacations in the Caribbean or Mexico. While these maybe be great get aways for Europeans to relax they shouldn’t be on top of an America’s priority list.

However, one must now keep in mind other factors that make cities more favorable than others besides their tourist attractions. These factors should be taken into consideration as they can result in a better experience for the traveler. Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destination index rates the most favorable cities for tourism.

Go To Euromonitor International “Top 100 City Destinations” To find how all the cities of the world scored in all categories of the index.