To see Paris and die is no longer fashionable. Yes, the French capital is certainly beautiful and elegant, the Eiffel Tower is amazing, and the Champs Elysees are beautiful, but all this has already been advertised a million times and is densely dotted with tourists.
But in Europe there are enough other beautiful and calmer places to visit. Having studied the opinions of experienced travelers with The World Pursuit and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as on the basis of personal impressions, we have compiled list of the most beautiful cities in Europe. This is not a rating in its traditional sense, since each city is beautiful in its own way, and not a single photo can convey all the charm. This must be seen firsthand.
We also prepared a list of the most beautiful cities in Russia with photos and descriptions of amazing places.
Florence
The capital of Tuscany and one of the most interesting places in Italy. You must add this city to your Italian itinerary if it is not already there. Florence is famous for its world-class cuisine, museums, works of art and picturesque surroundings.
Florentine architecture attracts you to get lost in the historical center of the city. And history buffs will probably go crazy with delight, because Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance and is filled with historical treasures. Say hello to one of the symbols of the Florentine Republic - the statue of David by Michelangelo Buonarroti.
When you walk along narrow paved stone streets with marble basilicas, dark chapels, gas lanterns and charming frescoes, it seems that little has changed here over the centuries. In a word, in Florence you really have the opportunity to get lost in time.
Oia, Santorini, Greece
According to Greek mythology, Santorin is a lump of land that Triton, son of Neptune, gave to the Argonauts. They gave the island the name Callisti. Currently, the pearl of the island is the famous Greek resort city of Oia (or Oia). It is filled with snow-white buildings, crowned with bright blue roofs. The peculiarity of the island, which is actually an active sea volcano, has left its mark on urban architecture. Many houses were dug in volcanic rock on a cliffside, which offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Oia is also famous for its amazing sunsets, which can be observed almost every day, since there are few cloudy days on the island. The city is loved by both Greeks and foreign tourists, so it is better to visit this paradise in early autumn or late spring, when there are fewer people.
Keep in mind that there are almost no nightlife in the city, this place is ideal for a relaxing holiday with the whole family.
Budapest, Hungary
This city was nicknamed the “Paris of the East” because of its beautiful nature and unique architecture. The capital of Hungary is safe, young and unlike any other European city.
The highlight of local nightlife is the unique ruin pubs. They are housed in abandoned buildings from the Second World War, in the quarter of Erzhebetvaros. These pubs usually do not have doors, but there are high tables at which guests can skip a glass or two of alcohol and go to another restaurant. Many ruinous pubs are open even during the day, you can drink coffee and even dine in them.
Budapest is also famous for its thermal baths, which you can find throughout the city. There you can swim even in winter.
Venice, Italy
You can love or hate Venice, but both of them do not deny its popularity. It is one of the most beautiful historical cities on the planet, but it is also one of the most touristy places in the world.
A sinking city is a network of 118 islands connected by bridges. The buildings here are old, and if you manage to get away from the crowd, it seems that you came five centuries ago. This is pretty surreal.
Unfortunately, the canals of Venice are known for containing a lot of waste, and in the summer the smell from them can ruin your holiday experience. However, in cooler months there are fewer tourists, less waste, and no unpleasant odor. So we can say that Venice is one of the most beautiful European cities, with the exception of the summer months.
Bruges, Belgium
This small, green city in northern Belgium shows a sharp contrast with the bustling Brussels. The best way to see all its beauty is to rent a bike and ride along charming old houses and canals. If the day is sunny and warm, you can easily take a boat tour of the canals or head to the Koeleweimolen and Sint-Janshuismolen mills.
Bruges is one of the best places for beer lovers. Visit the Half Moon Brewery with an excursion and there you will be offered an excellent foamy drink.
Edinburgh, Scotland
It is a great alternative for those who want to explore the city, which is no less interesting, but less gloomy than London.
Edinburgh city center is divided into two parts: random buildings on a series of medieval streets in the Old City and beautifully built buildings of the New City in the style of classicism. Many buildings in the Old Town are covered in soot, which in itself is a historical landmark. After all, it has remained from medieval times when it was stoked with coal and firewood.
Edinburgh is in many ways messy and full of contrasts, but this is one of the components of its charm. It offers everything from fashionable world-class hotels to gourmet cuisine, noisy pubs, designer shops and shops selling kilts, whiskey and various souvenirs.
Helsinki, Finland
It is surprising that such a modern European city is very close to nature. It has a large amount of green space and the unique Temppeliaukio Church, located in a natural rock. The unusual architecture allows for an incredible acoustic effect in the church hall.
And not far from the center of Helsinki is the Botanical Garden, which created a whole system of artificial ponds, rosaries and greenhouses.
Kotor, Montenegro
If you like seascapes, but don't like noisy crowds, then Kotor is exactly the place to look into. This city, the first mention of which refers to 168 BC. e., saw both the Romans and the Serbs, was ruled by the Venetian Republic, and was the scene of fierce battles between Austria-Hungary and Montenegro. And now it is a quiet and peaceful place with just over 13,000 people.
It is surrounded by stone walls and a moat with water, and inside the city walls you will find many churches, a maze of clean streets, stone houses and quiet piazza.
The scenery around Kotor is very reminiscent of the Norwegian fjords, due to the natural beauty of the bay. But if you need truly fantastic views, do not be too lazy to go to the tiny city of Perast (12 km from Kotor), where the most beautiful bay of Europe is located. Perast was once a wealthy port city, and now it is called the city of millionaires, because each building in it costs more than a million euros. And according to rumors there are estates of many Russian and foreign politicians and celebrities.
Vienna, Austria
If you are a connoisseur of culture and art, then you must make a trip to Vienna. The noble charm of this city is made up of many wonderful components: from the State Opera (the largest opera house in the country) to the magnificent Muzikferain concert hall, from the magnificent Hofburg palace complex to the Town Hall (City Hall) in the neo-Gothic style.
Take a stroll through the vast parks or admire the creations of the great masters at the Museum of Fine Arts. Do not forget to visit Prater with the children - the Vienna version of Disneyland (albeit without the Disney secret room) - and enjoy the taste of Schnitzel.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The carefree and cheerful city of Amsterdam needs no introduction. It is known as the “Venice of the North” because of hundreds of canals, and boats are everywhere. If you travel alone, you can go for a romantic walk on the water.
There are interesting places for lovers of history, architecture, parties, delicious food, shopping, art and even carnal entertainment. But the beauty of this city lies not only in entertainment and channels, it is also in beautiful houses. Many of them are equipped with lifting hooks, with the help of which they lifted overall loads up.
If you're looking for traditional sights, check out Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, the Navigation Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. In the evening, take a walk along the Python Bridge, curved like a snake body, and enjoy its view in the light of lights.
All the cities represented in our top 10 are worth a visit. However, there are no ugly cities in the world. Each of them has its own charm; there would be a desire to find it.
