10 of My Favorite Amazing European Cities

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’m more of a nature and small town gal than a city gal.

So when I travel I gravitate to destinations where I can be in the natural world or to small towns and villages.

But there are some cities I really like — even love.

So in this post I’m going to offer up some of my favorite European cities.

I’m going to also mention a few that I wasn’t as impressed with, but that I’m willing to give a second chance — because I believe in second chances.

First I want to mention the only criteria I had — other than spending at least one night in the city — is that each city must have a population of 100,000 or more. 

So are you ready to check out my list of amazing European cities? 

Good.

Because I’m ready to share it!

And yes, there are more Italian cities on here because, well, it’s Italy!

Paris, France

One of the only cities I’ve visited twice is Paris.

And it really is my favorite city so far.

I love walking around it.

I love the architecture.

And I love the atmosphere.

It’s at once energetic yet has that, “let’s slow down and enjoy life” vibe.

The museums are fabulous, the cafes are wonderful and the history is amazing.

While I’m not a huge fan of French food, I do love French cheese and wine. 

And who doesn’t love a good croissant?!

Strolling around the various neighborhoods and popping into shops or coming upon a wee little park is the best.

As a photographer I love it!

Notre Dame is my absolute favorite and I am so hoping they are able to restore it to its former beauty.

I’m also a huge fan of the Panthéon and I love the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie. 

I’ve stayed in the Latin Quarter and in Le Marais and enjoyed both for different reasons.

I’d love to try St Germain on my next visit. 

And I’d definitely stay for a month.

That’s how much this non-city gal loves Paris.

*Sigh*

Just thinking about Paris makes me smile.

It’s really an amazing European city.

Verona, Italy

2 nights here simply was not enough.

I truly fell in love with this city in the Veneto region of Italy.

Verona is filled with incredible historical sites, gorgeous churches, beautiful piazzi, outstanding wine and food and little streets to get lost on.

The Arena is the most famous attraction.

In summer, you can see opera performances in this ancient amphitheater. 

I visited Verona in early-mid September and attended a concert of a well-known pop star, Laura Pausini.

It was so much fun to be in this ancient arena with all the Italians singing along.

Sites such as Torre dei Lamberti, Basilica di Sant’ Anastasia, Piazza Bra and Piazza dei Signori are all high on my list.

And do be sure to wander down the smaller lanes as I’m sure you’ll stumble upon something to interest you.

I really want to go back to Verona.

This is another European city I could spend a month in — easily.

Vicenza, Italy

I have to admit I almost neglected to put this Italian city on my list.

I spent a few nights here and loved it so much I went back for another night.

Another city in the Veneto region, Vicenza is smaller than Verona.

But I absolutely love it.

Here’s why: it felt much more authentic and far less touristy than Venice, which is where I had come from.

All around me I heard Italian — not English or German or Chinese.

I saw Italians on bicycles.

I saw Italians greeting each other.

Then there is the whole Palladio architecture thing to admire.

So many beautiful buildings!

The old town of Vicenza is pretty compact so it’s easy to get around.

I highly recommend a couple of days in this under-visited European city.

You’ll love it!

Venice, Italy

So I just mentioned Venice.

And while I had some issues with too many damn people in my short 2 day stay, I still love this European city.

It’s unique and simply stunning.

During my time, I really just wandered about the streets, getting lost, ending up at dead ends, but loving the architecture. 

I have all the photos to prove that!

My tip is to get up early and see the true Venice.

Watch the locals going off to work in the mornings.

See shopkeepers getting their deliveries and chatting it up with the guy or gal making those deliveries.

I ran one morning through the San Marco neighborhood including running through San Marco piazza.

It was quiet — and it’s my favorite memory of Venice.

Because when I returned to the piazza later that day, it was mobbed with people!

Venice is one of those European cities that many travelers have on their “must see” list so it suffers from over tourism.

And the pandemic has actually been a bit beneficial in easing this.

Will this be a place that gets inundated with tourists again?

Who knows.

But if you do go, try to go a bit out of season and do get out early in the morning. 

Granada, Spain

This was my very first European city.

And it’s one of the cities that I most want to return to now that I’m a more experienced traveler.

For me the main draw is the Alhambra and it’s why I traveled here on that first European trip.

This is a stunning Moorish palace that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Do add the Generalife Gardens onto your tickets as these gardens are gorgeous!

I spent a bit of time wandering some of the streets — the Carrera del Darro and through the Albayzín which is the historical Arab quarter that is also a UNESCO site.

Since I only had 2 nights in Granada, I didn’t have time to do much else.

But there is a lot here outside of the spots I’ve already mentioned — the Granada Cathedral, the Palacio de la Madraza, some museums, lots of little streets with tapas bars and some incredible overlooks of the city (for my fellow photographers).

*Sigh*

I want to go back to Granada.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

This European city is charming as hell.

It’s small and compact making it easy to get around on foot.

While there isn’t a ton in the way of sites, what Ljubljana has is a fun, social and hip vibe to it.

There are cafes and bars to sit at — outside along the river if weather permits — and have a tea or coffee or an adult beverage.

The castle up on the hill is worthy of some time as it’s quite interesting (get an audio guide) and the views of the city and to the mountains beyond are fantastic.

Do take a walking tour as you’ll learn a lot about the history of Slovenia and the city. 

My favorite thing about Ljubljana — beside the fact that it’s just a very livable and lively city — is the Central Market. 

The food here is fresh and local and it’s where the locals shop too. 

So you really can live like a local in Ljubljana.

It’s definitely one of my favorite European cities.

Not on the list … yet

Rome, Italy

Because I only spent 1 very quick night here and had little time to explore in the late afternoon, Rome doesn’t make my list.

But I would love to go back as I think it will make my favorite European cities list.

While it’s much bigger and more chaotic than Florence, there is so much history in Rome and so many experiences to have.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Another city that I spent a quick night in is Belfast.

I was with my Irish friend and we were having a girl’s night with some of her friends.

We had a wonderful meal with drinks afterward, stayed in a very nice hotel and went to St George’s Market the next morning.

But I didn’t get to really see the city so it’s not on my list.

I would love to go back and spend a few days to experience more of the capital of Northern Ireland as I do think it would make my favorite European cities list.

 

Edinburgh, Scotland

I spent 2 nights here and was not overly impressed.

I know. 

I hear you saying, “What? How could you not love Edinburgh?”

So many people love this European city.

But hear me out because I think I know why I didn’t connect with Edinburgh.

I had been in Scotland for close to 3 weeks — a good week of walking the West Highland Way followed by 5 nights in the far Northwest — where it is nothing but gorgeous landscape — then a few nights on the Isle of Skye again in the landscape. 

I got to Edinburgh and it was a busy, noisy city.

It was a bit rainy and kind of dark. 

I missed the beautiful Scottish landscape and the peace and quiet.

I did enjoy my tasting at the Scotch Whisky Experience and I did have a wonderful dinner at the Rosehip in the New Town. 

So my plan is to return to Edinburgh and see what happens because my theory is that I will thoroughly enjoy the capital of Scotland when it’s in the right place on my itinerary.

London, England

I know so many people who love London.

I didn’t.

While I certainly didn’t hate it, it just wasn’t Paris.

I liked a few things about it when I found some fun little small alleyways to wander down.

But it’s so big and so sprawling.

It’s way bigger than Paris, from a geographical standpoint.

However, I would go back and find the right neighborhood to stay in. 

I did enjoy the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery.

The cruise down the Thames to Greenwich was fab as was Greenwich itself.

In fact, that might have been my favorite spot in the London area.

I’ll go back for sure.

I’m not sure it will make it onto the list of favorite European cities, but I’m willing to at least give it another look.

 

Istanbul, Turkey

I’m torn over Istanbul.

There are some things I love so much about it, that it’s sort of on my list of favorite European cities.

Then it’s just so damn big and sprawling and filled with traffic that it’s not.

The Sultanahmet district is where some of the main sites such as the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace are.

I love this area as it’s easy to walk around and experience a lot.

But it’s busy.

Istanbul is beautiful but it’s huge — and very crowded.

I spent 4 or 5 nights here and it was certainly worth it.

But that was plenty.

Big, bustling, crowded cities just aren’t my thing.

Geneva, Switzerland

Because I had a friend living there at the time, I traveled to this international city.

I went more to see her and to see Switzerland in general.

And while I like Geneva, I just didn’t quite “connect” with this European city.

That’s why it’s not on my favorite list.

There are things I really like about it.

Old Town Geneva is really lovely.

And the area along the lake with the gardens is beautiful.

So I liked it, but not enough to put it on my list.

Would I go back?

Maybe on a day trip from elsewhere.

Do I think you should go if you have the chance?

YES!

It is worthy of some time.

It just didn’t rock my world!

Final thoughts on my favorite European cities

So there is the list of my favorite cities.

And then those other cities I’ve traveled to but that left me not as impressed.

Again, I stress that I’m not a big city person. 

I don’t mind a bit of time in the cities, but my happy place is in the landscape or seascape.

I’d love to hear about your favorite European cities.

Drop them in the comments below.

Please note that Wander Your Way does not recommend international travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, many destinations and attractions found on this website will not be operating although some places have opened. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

I do plan to continue to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about travel. This way when we can all travel again, you’ll be ready to go! For now, stay home (or close to home) and stay safe!

 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission – at no extra cost to you — if you click on the link and purchase anything from these trusted companies. It helps Wander Your Way, a small business, stay in business. Thanks for your support!

Like it? Pin it!