Europe

10 Top Cities in Europe to Visit for a City Break


Disclosure: Your support helps keep our site running. We may get a referral fee at no cost to you if you click on our links and make a purchase. Thank you for your support.

Europe is full of fantastic cities to visit that offer the perfect opportunity to get away from the office, discover a new place, try new experiences, party or just simply unwind. There are cities that are incredibly picturesque or come with a fascinating history. Here are 10 of the best and must-see cities in Europe that make for a perfect city break.


1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

One of the most picturesque cities in the world. It is easy to spend hours just wandering the canals and enjoying the quirky buildings all around. Cycling is a big part of the culture and on every corner you will see bikes parked on railings or cyclists going about their everyday life.

You may like:
City Breaks: Quick Guide to Visiting Amsterdam
Pictures of Amsterdam That Will Make You Want to Visit

Book Amsterdam

Amsterdam canals, bridges and buildings at night
Image by @mikecleggphoto

2. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a popular city with the beautiful Charles Bridge connecting Old Town to Lesser Town (Malá Strana). The city has plenty of things to do on both sides of the river. A few things in Old Town include the historic Astronomical Clock, The Church of Our Lady before Týn and Town Hall Tower viewpoint.  On the Lesser Town side a few things include Prague Castle, ‎St. Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane. Along with fantastic places to eat and low prices, it’s the perfect place for a cheap and very memorable trip.

You may like: The Best Viewpoints in Prague

Book Prague

A view of the Prague Skyline at night
Image by @mikecleggphoto

3. Paris, France

The city of Love, Paris is a great place for a romantic break. This city is packed with things to see such as going up the Eiffel Tower or going below ground to the scary Catacombs. A nice experience is a boat ride along the river Seine, or a walk up to the Sacré-Cœur for some breathtaking views of the city.

Book Paris

A view towards the Eiffel Tower in Paris at night
Image by @mikecleggphoto

4. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is home to incredible architecture such as the Park Güell designed by Gaudí and the still being constructed Sagrada Família. This city also has wonderful beaches, as well as many restaurants serving extremely tasty Tapas and Sangria.

Book Barcelona

A view of the Barcelona skyline from Park Guell
Image by @mikecleggphoto

5. Vienna, Austria

Everywhere you walk in Vienna you will be surrounded by elegant and beautiful architecture. There is plenty to do in this city, from heading to a ball, seeing Opera or having lunch up in the wineries overlooking the city. Vienna is a particularly nice city to visit for a romantic trip with your loved one, as well as for including in a multi-destination trip, visiting multiple destinations (or countries) nearby.

Book Vienna

A view of the Vienna skyline at sunset
Image by @mikecleggphoto

6. Berlin, Germany

Germany’s Capital is well organised with lots of history. You will find the Holocaust Memorial, The Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, as well as landmarks such as the Reichstag Building and Brandenburg Gate. For breathtaking views of the city head up the Berlin TV Tower. Berlin serves as a great destination for history lovers as well as those looking for top nightlife experiences.

Book Germany

Berlin around the Brandenburg Gate in the winter showing people and snow
Image by @mikecleggphoto

7. Venice, Italy

Venice is a city like no over. From the bus station, you will find no land vehicles, only boats and people. A great experience is to get lost among the narrow streets and canals, soaking up the unique world heritage scenery. A nice excursion would be to visit Burano, located not too far from Venice where you’ll see some of the most colourful buildings on the planet.

More pictures: Over 20 photographs of Venice that’ll make you want to visit.

Book Venice

Views of the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge at sunset
Image by @mikecleggphoto

8. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is home to incredible thermal spas and other great attractions. A nice day out includes walking up to Fisherman’s Bastion for some incredible views of the city, including the Hungarian Parliament seen below, and then in the afternoon heading to one of the thermal baths for some well-earned relaxation.

Book Hungary

The Hungarian Parliament at night from across the river
Image by @mikecleggphoto

9. London, England

A city full of life, London is a busy city that never stops. Here you will enjoy many free museums, as well as wonderful landmarks such as Tower Bridge and the Palace of Westminster. Other things to do include seeing a performance along the West End, or going to Oxford Street for a high-quality shopping experience.

Book London

The Houses of Parliament in London showing Big Ben/Elizabeth Tower and traffic
Image by @mikecleggphoto

10. Ghent, Belgium

Ghent is a beautiful historic city with the impressive Het Belfort van Gent Bell Tower at the centre. From here you could take a beautiful walk along the River Leie along the Korenlei and Graslei paths. If you wanted something a bit alternative you could head to Werregarenstraat which is Ghent’s very own graffiti alley. As well as lots to see, Ghent comes with plenty of beautiful restaurants to enjoy a tasty meal.

To read our post on seeing multiple cities in Belgium in one trip head to Belgium Multi City Trip – Ghent Bruges Brussels.

Book Ghent

The scenic Korenlei and Graslei paths and River Leie in Ghent at night
Image by @mikecleggphoto

Summary

One of the best things about Europe is just how easy it is to get between places. This means that you can visit multiple cities or countries during a single trip. Such as a Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Hungary multi-destination trip, Balkans trip or a journey through some of the Nordic countries. See more of our multi-destination articles for ideas.

Visiting Asia? Then check out 10 Incredible Cities to Visit in South East Asia for ideas of cities to visit.

Ready to book? Search for:

Author

Written by

Mike Clegg

Mike is a traveller, photographer, WordPress developer and the creator of TravelAndDestinations.com. He started this website so as to share his experiences and tips with travellers. He is from the UK and has travelled to many places around the world. He loves to shares his pictures and stories through Instagram and this website.

Read full bio | More articles by Mike

Noticed a mistake? Let us know.

Related Articles

See more articles in the Europe category