Best European Cities to Visit
Europe is a continent filled with amazing sites and sounds, with beautiful and very diverse cities. From quiet, peaceful little cities, to large metropolitan ones, Europe has many options to choose from when travelling abroad. This summer visit these cities for a memorable vacation with your family or friends.
1. Paris, France
Paris conjures up an image of romance, love, wine, and of course the Eiffel Tower. A beautiful modern city with a lot of history and culture, Paris is a favorite hotspot of tourists all year round. One of the main fashion cities of the world, the shopping in Paris is to die for, from high-end fashion stores, to street stalls, everything can be found there if you look. Besides shopping, there’s so much to see in Paris, and so much to do, that a person can’t really get bored or have a dull day. You could always go to the Le Paris Plage beach on a sunny day, or have cappuccinos and croissants on one of the hundreds of road-side cafes that line the city. If you want to go back in time, then hit the Lourve, a huge museum with famous works of Da Vinci, and artists of the Renaissance. There are also the ancient catacombs and sewers that you can visit with tour guides that will give you very interesting anecdotes of what all went down there in the olden era. And at night, party away in one of the nightclubs of Paris, as it has a very happening nightlife!
2. Venice, Italy
Another extremely romantic city filled with dreamy gandolas, and canals, Venice is another historical city that is to be visited once in everyone’s lifetime. The charm of Venice is mainly the fact that its surrounded by canals, and virtually no roads. Do take a gondola ride through the Grand Canal for a once in a lifetime experience of the scenery of Venice in one quick go, the first time is always the best as the impact of the city on water is remarkable. There are a lot of historical places to see in Venice, do visit the Gallerie dell’ Accademia, which has an exquisite collections of paintings by Italian masters. Check out the vast difference between the lavish Doge’s Palace, and the malicious prison on the other side of the canal. And for a fun, easy-going day, go to the Rialto markets, and buy fruits and vegetables, or just enjoy the colorful stalls. Don’t miss the cheese and wine in Venice, these are among the best in the world.
3. Florence, Italy
Florence is a fabulous city filled with art and culture of the Renaissance period. For an amazing tour of the city, get a ticket for the hop on hop off bus tour, to see the beautiful sights of Florence. Visit the Piazzale Michealangelo for an amazing view of the city, and do check out the numerous museums and art galleries of Florence for the works of some of the most-renowned masters of art. Since Florence was the birth place of the Renaissance, the city resounds with the political and artistic history of that era. Indulge in the amazing food that the Italians have to offer from the finer restaurants or from window stalls all over the city. Do have some gelato, which some connoisseurs consider to be the best in the world.
4. Rome, Italy
Rome should not be missed by history and archaeology buffs, the city has some of the most ancient sights and ruins that the Western world has to offer. Visit the Colosseum, the center of Roman entertainment, and imagine the ancient gladiators and animals combats. The Pantheon is also a must-see for tourists, the ancient temple that was initially dedicated to all the gods. The Santa Maria Maggiore is the most ancient church in the world, and is still open for tourists. There are 19 basilicas to choose from, but the most famous one has to be the St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest basilica in the world. For entertainment, Rome has tons to offer, clubbing under the stars, wine bars, cafes, pizzerias; there is just so much to choose from. And of course, the shopping is highly addictive, so be careful while you are shopping, you wouldn’t want to max out your cards!
5. Madrid, Spain
Madrid is one of the big metropolitan cities of Europe, characterized by its culture, history, art, and its night life. A vibrant city with a lot of history, Madrid has numerous museums and art galleries to offer, among which one of the most famous art galleries in the world is the Museo del Prado, displaying artworks by renowned artists such as Raphael, Botticelli, Rembrandt, and so many more. When hungry, try the Spanish dishes typical of Spain, such as the Cocido Madrileno, Callos, Tortilla de patates, etc. It is said, that the people of Madrid never sleep; the nightlife is extremely vibrant and most of the restaurants don’t even open till eight or nine o’clock at night. The bars, clubs, cafes offer a lot of entertainment, many of which have live music. Shopping in Madrid is a feast for tourists, with prices ranging from extremely cheap to high-end fashion outlets, Madrid’s shopping districts are something that should not be missed.
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This post has 3 comments
May 4th, 2009
These are all great cities. May I suggest one thought? If you’re taking the train south through Italy, I highly recommend going a *little* bit out of your way and visiting Cinque Terre. It’s one of those off the beaten path places you’ll probably skip over in your guidebook. I wrote a post about it so check it out if you’ll be in the area: http://www.havepack.com/off-the-beaten-path-destinations-how-to-find-the-highlight-of-your-trip/
May 24th, 2009
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader.
June 22nd, 2009
I really liked your blog!