Free website created on
The best travel tips
Looking for inspiration for a fun city trip? In this article I will help you on your way with my personal Top 10 of most beautiful cities in and around Europe:
1) Florence
The capital of Tuscany, or as the Italians call it, is Firenze. The city of the Renaissance has impressive sights such as the Santa Maria del Fiori, or the Duomo (cathedral) of Florence. An impressive church with its marble exterior and the immense Brunelleschi dome. The other top attraction in Florence is the Uffizi gallery, with numerous impressive paintings and sculptures. Visit Michelangelo's David in the Galleria dell’Accademia, beautiful palaces such as Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio, and combine this with numerous impressive museums. Florence Italy, a city where the true culture lover will run out of time!
2) Barcelona
One visits the atmospheric (and sometimes somewhat touristy) city of Barcelona for the beach, the other for shopping, but many tourists come here for the many modernist buildings by Antoni Gaudi, among others. The absolute highlight is Gaudi's unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia, followed by the colorful Park Güell park and buildings such as La Pedrera and Casa Batllo. Discover the cozy Gothic quarter with the cathedral, atmospheric squares and the adjacent boulevard of Las Ramblas. Football fan? Then a visit to Camp Nou should not be missed. Few cities in Europe are as versatile for a city trip as Barcelona!
3) Rome
Italy's capital, Rome, is a large open-air museum. Even when you are not visiting the main sights, you will pass so many historical monuments and churches that you would long stop to think about in any other city. In terms of Roman monuments, you should not miss the Colosseum with the adjacent Roman Forum. Visit the Vatican City with the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and St. Peter's Basilica at the square of the same name. In the evening you visit the pleasant Trastevere district or visit the Villa Borghese park with the Galleria Borghese museum. There is so much to see in Rome that you could easily enjoy yourself here for a week.
4) Edinburgh
Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, is the prettiest city in the UK as far as I'm concerned. The Royal Mile runs right through the city, in the Old Town district. A historic mile connecting the impressive Edinburgh Castle to the Royal Palace of Holyrood House. From here you can take beautiful walks up the hill of Arthur's Seat. Visit the New Town district, the cute Dean Village or get spooky by visiting Greyfriar's Kirkyard. The city of Edinburgh has an underground history that is best experienced by going on an Undergroudn Tour. After your walk you will of course end in a pub to end with a good glass of whiskey.
5) Venice
Actually, the overtourism of Venice is no longer fun, but when you have the opportunity to visit Venice outside the high season, you will experience perhaps the most beautiful city in Europe. Many tourists do not get further than St. Mark's Square with St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, but if you make the effort to get outside of the St. Mark's district, you will also be able to experience other sides of Venice. Visit the most cultural district of Dorsoduro with various museums such as the Galleria dell'Accademia and the Guggenheim. In the Cannaregio district is the Jewish ghetto with a historical museum. When you take the boat you can visit colorful islands such as Murano, Burano and the small island of Torcello. Venezia becomes really beautiful when you avoid the tourist crowd.
6) Granada
If you ever visit the Spanish region of Andalusia, a Granada visit should not be missed. The city has a vast Moorish history that you can experience in the Albayzin district. In the cave district of Sacromonte you will experience a completely different side of Granada, namely the flamenco of the gypsies. But the main reason to come to Granada is the Alhambra with the beautiful Nasrid Palace. The "red fort" is the tourist attraction of Spain, a beautiful Moorish-style palace with beautiful surrounding gardens and the adjacent Generalife summer palace. Finally, don't miss the royal tombs in Granada Cathedral.
7) Dubai
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is just a little further away (six hours) and is actually the odd one out as the city has little to do with culture. However, the enormous modern transformation that the city of Dubai has undergone is precisely what gives Dubai its enormous charm. The sights here go from one extreme to the other extreme extreme. Visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world, the largest fountain, largest flower garden, largest Ferris wheel and so on. With a desert excursion you will then experience how this city was built in the middle of the desert. An ideal city trip to go from one surprise to another.
8) Seville
After Granada, another city from Andalusia in this list of the most beautiful cities. Seville has won my heart because of the enormous charming center with numerous old buildings and narrow streets where it is good to relax with a sangria or tapas. This city also has an enormous Moorish history with the Real Alcazar de Sevilla, the royal palace, as the main attraction. Opposite the Alcazar you should also visit the immense cathedral with the Moorish Giralda tower. In addition, the city has numerous monuments as a reminder of world exhibitions. The most famous is the Plaza de España in the Maria Luisa park, better than Reykjavik Iceland. In the evening you will visit the atmospheric Triana district on the other side of the river.
9) Milan
Those who have only been in Milan for a short time will experience little of the charm of this Italian city. The sights here are less for the taking than in the other major Italian cities. The absolute top attraction is the Duomo, Milan's cathedral where you really should visit the roof terrace. In the Santa Maria delle Grazie you can visit Milan's most famous work of art, Da Vinci's Last Supper. Yet the city has a lot to offer in terms of culture, as a shopping paradise or to relax with a Milanese aparitivo. Another interesting city in Italy is Napoli, or Naples. Famous for Pompeii, Naples Underground and Mount Vesuvius.
9) Athens
Besides the above cities, it can also be fun to visit Greece. How about Athens? The Athens sights include the Acropolis, the Ancient and Roman Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Read all about what to do in Athens? All sights in a row
10) Amsterdam
Finally, our own capital Amsterdam should not be missing from this list. Visited many cities in the world, but Amsterdam's charm is unique. The beautiful canals, world famous museums such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum. The beautiful palace on Dam Square, in combination with other extremes such as the Red Light District. Amsterdam remains a city that surprises you, no matter how often you visit.
11) Belfast
Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and it offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Here are some highlights of what you can see and do while visiting Belfast:
Visit the Titanic Belfast museum, which is located in the Titanic Quarter and tells the story of the famous ship and its connection to the city.
Explore the city's history by visiting the Ulster Museum, which covers a wide range of subjects including art, natural history, and local history.
Take a walk along the River Lagan and enjoy the views of the city's landmarks, including the Belfast City Hall and the Harland and Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic was built.
Go on a tour of the city's political murals, which depict the history of the Troubles and the peace process.
Visit the Belfast Castle, which is located on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park and offers panoramic views of the city.
Check out the Cathedral Quarter, a vibrant neighborhood known for its art galleries, independent shops, and lively nightlife.
12) Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a city located on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, and it is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and beautiful natural surroundings. Here are some things you can do while visiting Dubrovnik:
Walk around the city's Old Town, which is surrounded by medieval walls and is home to a number of historic landmarks, such as the Rector's Palace, the Dubrovnik Cathedral, and the Franciscan monastery.
Take a boat tour to the nearby Elafiti islands, which offer beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters.
Go on a hike in the nearby mountains, such as the Srđ hill, which offers panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic coast.
Visit the Dubrovnik City Walls, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site and offer beautiful views of the city and the surrounding area.
Relax on one of Dubrovnik's many beaches, such as Banje Beach or Sveti Jakov Beach.
Check out the city's food and drink scene by trying some traditional Croatian dishes at a local restaurant or visiting one of the city's many bars and clubs.
Take a day trip to the nearby town of Cavtat, which is known for its beautiful beaches and historic landmarks.
Overall, Dubrovnik offers a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy, whether you are interested in history, culture, outdoor activities, or just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the city and its surroundings.
|