Paris from Leap of Faith
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon is often one of the most overlooked cities. I have no idea why! If you’ve ever been to Lisbon, you’d know it’s possibly one of the most gorgeous European cities. The city has several miradors, which are areas overlooking the city with spectacular views. People of all ages come by on weekdays and weekends, during the day and night to meet, eat, drink and dance!
Lisbon from Trekearth
Venice, Italy When I think of Venice, the first thing I think of are the stunning canals! The city contains approximately 150 canals, spanned by over 400 bridges! Although there are several man-made bridges connecting the streets of Venice, the canals are used for everyday travel. I would love to take a boat ride through a canal to work in the morning, wouldn’t you?!
Venice from Flickr
Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is home to one of the most famous, and unique, architects, Antoni Gaudi . What’s most interesting about Gaudi’s work is that he never drew plans! Instead, he created small scale 3-D models and worked out the details that way, before creating his actual work. Once you know this, you will look at the architecture of Barcelona in a whole different way!
Barcelona from JetHeart
London, England No European city roundup is complete without London! It’s unlike many European cities because it’s a mix of old and new architecture, and many different cultures. Similar to the United States, Great Britain is now populated with descendants from around the world. The mix culminates in London, which is a giant melting pot, similar to New York City. With so much to do, you’ll never get bored!
London by John Holland on Flickr
Istanbul, Turkey Putting Istanbul on the list MAY be cheating. Half of the city is in Europe and the other half of the city, across the river, is in Asia. Right now, Istanbul is HOT, HOT, HOT! It’s totally trending, it has the best music scene and there are so many new and exciting galleries popping up! You can have your historic fix and see what’s new and hip. The best of both worlds!
Istanbul from Fine Arts America
Sevilla, Spain Southern Spain is beautiful, but Sevilla has to be one of my favorite cities in the region. It’s a small town but has a big impact on those who visit! The city has a mix of Roman and Moorish traditions, which is reflected in its music, architecture, and food. This is most apparent in Flamenco, which started in Andelusia and is a mix of singing, dancing, and guitar playing.
Sevilla by Zu Sanchez from Flickr
Prague, Czech Republic After Istanbul, Prague is becoming one of the most talked about European cities. The city somehow escaped the bombs during the wars of the last century. It’s a miracle! Because of that, it has some of the oldest buildings in Europe and retained much of its Art Nouveau details. It’s also very romantic! It’s the perfect place to go for a honeymoon, anniversary or…proposal!
Prague from 79 Ideas
Berlin, Germany Berlin is the PERFECT city for a designer to visit! The interiors of the newest hotels are stunning and fashion is at its peak. (Last month I talked to you about Berlin Fashion Week !) Berlin has a fantastic public transport system so it’s easy to get around. And with so many things to do, you’ll need to easily hop around!
Berlin from Travel and Leisure
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsteram may be a small city but there is a lot packed into it. Architecture, design, history, museums, FUN! I love the flower market and I love renting a bike and cycling down the streets. Like many of the European cities, it’s very green, and almost everyone uses a bicycle. The city also has some of the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted!
Amsterdam from Conde Nast Traveler
Wow, talking about all my faves really makes me want to book a trip right now! Which is your favorite European city? What’s on your list to visit next?