The Best European Cities to Visit in 2025
If you are planning a trip to Europe for the Summer of 2025, there are so many incredible cities to choose to visit. Since I live in San Francisco, the journey to Europe is usually a 12-15 hour plane journey so I’m typically packing in multiple cities over the course of a couple of weeks to make the flight worth the time and money. I’ve compiled my top recommendations of the top cities to visit in Europe in 2025 depending on what you are looking for in your trip.
The Best Big Cities to Visit in Europe
Paris, France
Paris is consistently in the top three most visited cities in Europe, and for good reason. Paris has some of the best coffee and pastries, iconic historic sites like the Eiffel tower and the Louvre, and a world-class shopping scene. The city’s charming streets and lively café culture provide the perfect backdrop for strolling along the Seine or exploring neighborhoods such as Montmartre and Le Marais. Paris offers an unmatched blend of history, beauty, and liveliness.
Check out My Travel Guide to Paris
Rome, Italy
Rome is one of the cities that also truly has everything – the rich history, world-class food, various neighborhoods to explore, and great nightlife. Rome’s historical sites like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain are some of the most breathtaking in all of Europe. It’s also very accessible to a lot of nearby cities by train, making it a great place to start your trip.
Check out My Guide to Your First Trip to Rome.
While there are so many cities to pick from, both of these are the two cities I feel truly have it all from the history to incredible food to nightlight to activities. You could easily spend over a week or two in each of these places.
The Top Coastal Destinations to Visit
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca has the most stunning blue water I have ever seen in my life, with incredible coves around the island to explore with virtually no waves. After spending a day at the beach, Mallorca also offers vibrant city life in Palma or beautiful mountainous cities like Deià . The entire island is so beautiful and stands as one of my favorite places I’ve ever been.
Check out My Travel Guide to Mallorca
Two Mallorca Restaurant Guides: C’as Pastro Marche and Cafe Miro
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik has one of the most charming old towns in Europe, surrounded by the beautiful Adriatic sea and 78 small islands. If traveling to Dubrovnik, there is so much to explore between the Elaphiti Islands, a day trip to Montenegro, and the activities within Dubrovnik itself. Nightlife is also very fun here if you are looking to party at night. Be sure to take a boat out on the water and watch the sunset from Buza Bar!
Read more in my What to Do in Dubrovnik Guide
Also be sure to checkout my Guide to Visiting the Elaphiti Islands
Capri, Italy
Capri is an island within the Amalfi Coast, just a short ferry ride away from Positano. Capri has some of the best beach clubs within the Amalfi Coast, along with its famous Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro Chairlift, and local limoncello. The crowds here during the afternoon can get very busy so I recommend staying here for the night to experience it before/after the tourist crowds. The Amalfi Coast is undoubtedly one of the most romantic and beautiful spots in Europe.
Check out my Amalfi Coast Travel Guide
The Best Spots for Nature or Adventure Seeking Travelers
Interlaken, Switzerland
Interlaken feels like a dream come to life, where you’re surrounded by glistening bright blue lakes and towering snow-capped mountains. The Swiss Alps has world-class hiking, cable car rides to stunning viewpoints, seemingly endless waterfalls, and walkable village towns that look like they could be a national park. If you are here, be sure to make the trip to Jungfraujoch which sits atop Europe’s highest peak, coining its name “the top of Europe”.
Read more in my Three Days in Interlaken Guide
Also checkout my Day Trip to Jungfraujoch Guide
Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland is one of the most unique countries to visit, with its volcanic landscapes and numerous natural wonders. Reykjavik has close proximity to so many of Iceland’s key sites like the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle, and grounds to view the Northern Lights. If you are looking to hike, see black sand beaches, glaciers, and waterfalls, this is the place to visit in 2025.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh combines its historic charm with easy access to stunning natural landscapes, from the rolling hills of the Pentlands to the rugged cliffs of Arthur’s Seat. I highly recommend taking a day trip to Loch Ness and hiking along the trails of the Scottish Highlands.
Top All-Around Destination Picks
Nice, France
Nice is the city that truly has everything – you’ll get the lively city with great shopping and food, beautiful beaches, and various day trips accessible by just a quick 10-20 minute train ride to cities like Monaco, Cannes, and the fairytale village of Eze. If you’re traveling during peak season, you’ll also enjoy fewer crowds in Nice in comparison to the bigger cities like Paris and Rome. If you’re undediced between a big city or a more coastal vacation, this is truly a two-for-one. I can’t recommend coming enough and spending a week enjoying all the nearby cities!
Checkout my guide to 8 Day Trips to Take from Nice, France
Seville, Spain
Seville is one of the most underrated cities in Europe. Seville, located in Spain’s Andalusia region, has one of the most walkable cities with amazing short trips to go on from the city to Cadiz, Granada, and more. The main part of the city is almost entirely pedestrian roads, beautiful architecture at each turn, the birthplace of flamenco, and some of the best tapas restaurants in Spain. Trust me – you will not regret coming here! Just be cautious of the time of year you visit since the summer months can get really hot (into the 100s Fahrenheit).
Plan your trip with my Three Day Itinerary to Seville, Spain and my Day Trip Guide to Cadiz
Lake Como, Italy
The moment I stepped onto the ferry in Como, I was absolutely stunned by the beauty of it. While you can obviously see the mountains surrounding the lake in various photos, I failed to realize beforehand that these are the Alps and are so much grander in person than what you can imagine. The charming towns up and down the lake are so lovely to explore, and there are great activities to fill your days. You’ll have beautiful villas to explore, boat rides on the water, and incredible food all around. It’s a place everyone will love with the ideal mix of relaxation and exploring.
Be sure to read my All-In-One Travel Guide to Lake Como
Overall, there are so many amazing cities to visit in Europe and you truly can’t go wrong. Think about which historical sites you may be most interested in seeing, the culture you are looking to be most immersed in, and if you want someplace more city or coastal. Hopefully these gave you some ideas for your trip!
