My ranking for the most beautiful cities in Europe
If you're planning a city break in Europe, you'll be spoilt for choice: Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna, Budapest or Prague. Europe is exciting and has a lot to offer.
Whether you're interested in the top sights, architecture, culture and museums, nightlife or local cuisine. Europe is anything but boring. No matter which city you choose.
For 2-3 years now, the metropolises in Eastern Europe, which are still unknown to us, have become more and more interesting. The "unknown" coupled with Eastern Bloc charm makes cities like Sofia, Tallinn or Riga are becoming more and more popular. That's why I've put together a list of the top 10 most beautiful cities in Europe to show you which ones are worth visiting.
I haven't visited all of these cities yet either. At the end, I'll give you my insider tips for a city trip this year.
Rome - antiquity and pleasure!
Rome is a perennial favourite for city breaks in Europe, but quite rightly so. Over 6.5 million people visit the Colosseum alone every year. Colosseum alone. I could travel to Rome again and again, because the mix of culture, culinary delights and being active is perfect here.
One of the most beautiful views over Rome is from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. The capital of Italy has so many sights and great places to eat that you have to visit Rome many times to discover everything.
What would you like to do? A Visit the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, ColosseumPantheon or a culinary culinary tour through Rome (my insider tip)? Here are the top sights in Romethat you should see on your first trip.
Let's go to the Eternal City!
Tour Tip: Illuminati Tour and by the Via Appia Antica by bike
The most beautiful sights in Rome
See travel tips for Rome to plan your trip
All travel reports for your Rome city trip at a glance
Copenhagen - Love on the 2nd visit
On my first visit to Copenhagen, the city hardly had a chance to capture my heart. It rained almost continuously. Apart from museums, cafés and a boat tour, we didn't get to see much.
In the meantime, I had been to Denmark's capital several times. The city took my heart by storm. So many culinary highlights, the wonderful Scandinavian design and great attractions attract us again and again.
Tour tip: Food tour with Foodtours.eu (4 hours)
Rent a bike in the cycling capital of Europe!
Edinburgh - Festival Capital of the World!
I only recently discovered Edinburgh for myself. I am thrilled! Why had the beauty of this city remained hidden from me for so long? The capital and second largest city of Scotland is also the most visited city in the UK. Did you know that?
Amsterdam - City of the canals
Did you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris?
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and, apart from the canal belt with its narrow alleys and crooked houses, has a large number of interesting museums that won't let you get bored even if the weather is bad. The world's most famous are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum. My highlight is the Anne Frank House.
Is Amsterdam too touristy for you? Then you should visit Eindhoven or Maastricht Maastricht.
Barcelona - Favourite city by the sea
Ever since I was a child, Barcelona has been one of my absolute favourite cities. Therefore I have Barcelona a declaration of love to Barcelona. Because the city is located by the sea, which I particularly like. Barcelona is also always worth a visit, so I've been here almost 10 times.
Gaudí's buildings like the Sagrada Familia (the city's landmark) and Park Güell, plus the old town districts with small tapas bars and the location by the sea make Barcelona the top location in Europe. Or?
Recommendation for tours: Tapas tour in the Gothic Quarter with wine tasting (ideal for groups). and a Bicycle tour through Barcelona
Sagrada Familia Barcelona 
Stockholm - my 2nd love
Stockholm is called "the beauty by the water". I like cities by the water, so I've been to the Swedish capital four times.
After Barcelona, Stockholm is my favourite city in Europe, along with Berlin.
Stroll along the crooked cobblestones of the old town Gamla Stan, discover Scandinavian design in the numerous boutiques and shops or take a boat trip through the archipelago.
If you have plenty of time, take a day trip to Uppsala. Friends of mine live here and the student city is also worth a trip!
ABBA Museum in Stockholm 
Gamla Stan in Stockholm. The old town is a highlight London always goes!
A short trip to London is always a highlight. We travel to the city regularly and again, because there is always something new to discover.
Tour Tip: Jack the Ripper TourHarry Potter Studio Tour, Street Art Tour Shoreditch and the Rock'N'Roll Tour. Read more in the article with our London tips and the best tours andcity walks in London.
View The View from the Shard in London - the most beautiful and highest viewing platform in London. 
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard is so popular that you need to be there at least 2 hours early. Istanbul - Where Europe meets Asia!
For me, Istanbul is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
The city on the Bosphorus, which stretches almost endlessly across the European and Asian continents, has already cast its spell on me several times. Worldwide, the city has been voted one of the top 3 most popular cities in the world several times by travellers!
With its numerous sights such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque or the Topkapi Palace, there is so much to discover.
I discover new corners every time I visit! Hardly any visitor does not succumb to the charm of this city.
The view over the domes of the Sülemanye Mosque in Istanbul 
Park between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul 
Budapest - Underestimated Pearl on the Danube!
Budapest immediately found its way into my heart with its historic castle district, the castle hill overlooking the west bank of the Danube and the many great ruin pubs.
Even outside the city, Memento Park offers a throwback to the days of communism with its statues from a bygone era. On a bar tour through the famous ruin bars you can round off the evening.
A city that I feel is far too underrated! Off to Budapest!
Lisbon - Atlantic Love
I discovered my love for city trips in Lisbon when I was 15! At that time, Portugal was not yet part of the EU. It was run-down, poor and authentic. I liked it just the same. Now everything is "dressed up", gentrified and on many corners there are more Indian restaurants than Portuguese ones.
I can only make the comparison because part of my family lived in Cascais (a wonderful suburb) for 3 years. So I was able to explore the city with locals. I still like Lisbon and have fond memories of my visits.
The old trams, narrow streets and cosy restaurants along the Tejo. The perfect destination for a city trip! It's about time for me to travel to Lisbon again!
Insider tips for the most beautiful city in Europe
For 2022, I have resolved to visit more cities again. With Basel, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Rouen and Helsinki, I have some insider tips for you. My favourites are: Paris (I've never been there), Nantes, Toulouse, Strasbourg and Valencia.
Add to the tips a weekend in Munich in addition. Only now have we rediscovered the city for ourselves. Also Zurich is always worth a trip.
Glasgow - Street Art Paradise!
Oh how beautiful is Glasgow! Even though it was very cold in January when I visited. Glasgow, I'll be back! You can find great street art in the former industrial city and largest city in Scotland. Are you going on a road trip in Scotland soon? Then definitely plan two days in Glasgow. You'll love it too, I promise!
Paris - perennial favourite and tourist magnet
I know Paris is not an insider tip. But I've never been to Paris. This year it should finally be time, shouldn't it? Like Rome, Paris has so many sights that you should plan more than one weekend just to visit them.
Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, Montmartre, Champs-Élysées, Galeries Lafayette, Place des Vosges, to name but a few. Magnificent boulevards and small alleyways surround the city, where you can spend days exploring on foot.
Paris from above - I'd also like to visit Paris at last! Photo: shutterstock, William Perugini Sofia - My tip
Sofia, with its Eastern Bloc charm, appealed to me from the very first minute. Its cafés and the great street art in Tsar Ivan Shishman Street often reminds me of a Berlin of bygone days. Simply great, I definitely have to travel to Sofia again!
Valencia - more than Barcelona's little sister
Spain's third largest city after Madrid and Barcelona is one of the top destinations in Europe. Here, art nouveau palaces and a beautiful old town meet futuristic architecture. The beach is not far away and with 300 days of sunshine a year, there is hardly a more beautiful place in Europe to combine a city trip with a detour on the beach.
Ok, the description really sounds like Valencia's nickname "Barcelona's little sister". But I think: the city doesn't deserve any comparison, it is different and a tip for a short trip!
Valencia - the city of arts and sciences Belfast - more popular than ever since Game of Thrones
Many people had not even considered the capital of Northern Ireland. Belfast has experienced a boom, especially because Game of Thrones was filmed in the immediate vicinity. The Titanic Museum also attracts many people every day.
The city also has a lot to offer in the way of culinary delights. I also immediately fell in love with the many pubs with live music. You always have to expect rainy weather here. But that doesn't matter, because there are plenty of places to go in case of bad weather.
Manchester - Music & Football!
As you can see, my tips are quite UK-heavy. That's probably because I haven't been there for such a long time. That's why I really want to go to Manchester in summer or autumn. Preferably with my buddy Wayne from the band The Dead Lovers, because he's from here.
Reykjavik - Iceland at last
Iceland is an absolute top travel destination. Reykjavik is becoming more and more popular as a city break, as more and more flights to America go via the Icelandic capital. A stopover here is definitely worthwhile. Whether it's a tour of the city, visiting a volcano cave, whale watching tours or seeing the cute puffins.
Reykjavík's most striking sight: The Hallgrímskirkja 
At Kex Hostel you'll also find a hip bar on the ground floor Tallinn
Small cobblestone streets, a historic old town with a mighty city wall. It sounds old, but Tallinn is still a modern city. Tourists from cruise ships and ferries flock en masse to the old town. But there is also much to discover outside the city. The best way to explore Tallinn is by bike to discover everything.
Toompea Hill, Pikk Hermann Tower and the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. View from the tower of St. Olaf Church in Tallinn, Estonia. Krakow
The East is becoming increasingly popular, including Poland's second largest city, Krakow, in the south of the country. The buildings in the old town have been extensively renovated in recent years and offer a beautiful overall picture. Since the city was lucky and hardly destroyed in the wars, you will find many well-preserved buildings in the historic centre, such as the Main Market Square with its famous Renaissance Cloth Halls.
Krakow also has a very active cultural scene with a lively nightlife.
Krakow's Old Town is especially worth a visit. Photo: shutterstock