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
berlin
barcelona
Prague
lisbon
Milan
vienna
frankfurt
dublin
stockholm
florence
athens
istanbul
venice
brussels
budapest
kraków
Warsaw
copenhagen
European City Visitors…
| City, Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | World Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  London, England, UK | 19,059 | 19,828 | 19,233 | 19,559 | 3 |
 Paris, France | 13,926 | 15,834 | 17,560 | 19,087 | 6 |
 Istanbul, Turkey | 9,218 | 10,730 | 13,433 | 14,715 | 10 |
 Rome, Italy | 9,353 | 9,531 | 10,065 | 10,317 | 16 |
 Prague, Czechia | 8,200 | 8,806 | 8,948 | 9,150 | 22 |
 Amsterdam, Netherlands | 6,898 | 7,848 | 8,354 | 8,835 | 25 |
 Barcelona, Spain | 6,515 | 6,288 | 6,714 | 7,016 | 33 |
| Milan, Italy | 6,175 | 6,347 | 6,481 | 6,604 | 35 |
 Vienna, Austria | 5,867 | 6,186 | 6,410 | 6,634 | 37 |
 Berlin, Germany | 5,559 | 5,627 | 5,959 | 6,195 | 41 |
 Athens, Greece | 4,526 | 4,797 | 5,728 | 6,301 | 43 |
 Moscow, Russia | 4,571 | 4,800 | 5,510 | 5,969 | 45 |
| Venice, Italy | 5,212 | 5,316 | 5,502 | 5,590 | 46 |
| Madrid, Spain | 5,131 | 5,273 | 5,440 | 5,597 | 47 |
 Dublin, Ireland | 4,810 | 4,986 | 5,213 | 5,462 | 50 |
| Florence, Italy | 4,844 | 4,941 | 5,059 | 5,125 | 51 |
| Munich, Germany | 3,389 | 3,829 | 4,066 | 4,205 | 56 |
| St. Petersburg, Russia | 2,840 | 3,600 | 3,996 | 4,457 | 59 |
 Brussels, Belgium | 2,511 | 3,430 | 3,942 | 4,276 | 60 |
 Budapest, Hungary | 3,511 | 3,654 | 3,822 | 4,025 | 62 |
 Lisbon, Portugal | 3,136 | 3,522 | 3,539 | 3,639 | 63 |
| Heraklion, Greece | 2,885 | 3,147 | 3,371 | 3,034 | 66 |
 Copenhagen, Denmark | 2,887 | 2,963 | 3,069 | 3,185 | 71 |
 Kraków, Poland | 2,650 | 2,800 | 2,850 | 2,910 | 74 |
| Warsaw, Poland | 2,733 | 2,630 | 2,732 | 2,980 | 83 |
| Frankfurt am Main, Germany | 2,406 | 2,496 | 2,636 | 2,728 | 87 |
 Stockholm, Sweden | 2,327 | 2,473 | 2,604 | 2,721 | 88 |
| Nice, France | 2,164 | 2,327 | 2,466 | 2,582 | 92 |
| Porto, Portugal | 1,969 | 2,232 | 2,341 | 2,491 | 96 |
| Rhodes, Greece | 2,091 | 2,178 | 2,337 | 2,414 | 97 |
More Classical European Cities…
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
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.