Best European Cities to Visit in 2024
When most people think of Europe their mind immediately jumps to London, Paris and Rome. These capital cities are the pinnacle of European travel for many but the truth is…they’re quite overrated.
Europe is such a diverse continent and the cultures between two cities that look side by side on a map are completely different. Being a small part of the world, you can explore the continent in a relatively short amount of time.
For example, in 2023 I visited 20 European cities but was only away for 45 days out of the entire year! It’s incredible what you can cram into such a short space of time.
This post will give you an overview of the “Best European Cities to Visit in 2024” – hopefully you’ll find something interesting!
Best European Cities to Visit in 2024
Each city on this list appears because it has ‘won’ a particular category for me. I’ve travelled to all of these cities in 2023 and so have based my answers on comparison to each other.
Whether you’re looking for a cheap trip away from your busy 9-5, want to spend a week in a sunny seaside city enjoying the water or are interested in exploring the history of a city then there’s something on my list for everyone.
The categories I have chosen are:
- Most Affordable
- Best Historical Sites
- Most Tourist-Friendly
- Most Beautiful
- Best Activities
So… let’s get onto our first city!
Most Affordable: Gdansk
Gdansk was by FAR the cheapest city I have stayed in in Europe for a long time!
The city is located in northern Poland close to the Baltic Sea – perfect in the summer for relaxing on beaches (if you aren’t too fond of swimming because the water is always FREEZING!)
Gdansk has had a troubled past with the city being ravaged most severely in WWII. The devastation of the city and its people is remembered with many memorial sites and everywhere you turn there are remnants of the past.
It’s by no means a gloomy city though. The streets are vibrant with colour and the locals are cheery, making the city feel very welcoming and safe.
But how cheap is Gdansk? Well, here’s a cost breakdown.
✈ Flight prices obviously depend on your departure location but from what I can gather, you can travel affordably to Gdansk from many UK airports with airlines like Ryanair, Buzz and Wizz Air.
Our flights from Belfast to Gdansk = £35 pp return.
🍔 Food is extremely cheap in Gdansk – even in big-name restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe. Smaller chain restaurants selling local produce and meat are even cheaper – particularly if you opt for a fish dish. Our cost was lowered further by buying lunches in small supermarkets.
Food for two people for a three-day stay (including all snacks, drinks and restaurant meals)= ~ £65 total.
🏨 Accommodation prices vary in Gdansk. If you’re okay with not staying in the middle of the city centre then you’ll be very successful in finding cheap accommodation. Using Airbnb will probably provide you with the most success as private owners let their apartments out for very cheap.
Double room (shared bathroom) in an Airbnb on the outskirts of the city = £25 each for two nights.
🚙 Transport is extremely affordable in Gdansk and it’s actually easier and often cheaper to take Uber and taxis around the city rather than use public transport. Uber is a lot cheaper than taxis at quiet times and many drivers work for both so you will not be removing work from local taxi drivers by using Uber.
Using Uber to get from the airport to Gdansk city centre is perhaps the most important money-saving tip which also saves you time.
Our total cost for Uber and taxis around the city between attractions and the airport was £27 for the entire trip. This included many journeys that were only £2.50 each (and lasted 15+ minutes)!
Gdansk is quite a walkable city when you’re inside the gates but beyond them there are limited footpaths in many areas and crossing points are quite rare meaning a 5-minute car journey could easily be 30 minutes walking.
🎢 Activities are also cheap and easy in Gdansk. The city isn’t overflowing with things to do but you can definitely fill a few days without getting bored.
Some of my top activity recommendations would be to do a free (tips-based) walking tour, climb the Town Hall Tower, visit Westerplatte (the starting place of WWII), the WWII Museum and visit Papugarnia – an interactive exotic bird experience.
Overall activity cost = ~£30 each for the three-day trip.
This brings the total cost of the trip to approximately £121.50 – not bad for three days!
Best Historical Sites: Amsterdam
At first glance, Amsterdam may not appear to have too many historical sites worth visiting, but after further research, you’ll find that the city is full of hidden gems.
The city has over 7,000 listed historical buildings and landmarks making it very easy to stumble across something that you otherwise might not have meant to.
The most prominent historical site in the city is of course the Anne Frank House. Anne Frank’s diary (preserved in the house) has given insight into the world that her family lived in during WWII. As Jews, they hid for over two years from Nazi soldiers to prevent capture.
They were eventually discovered and sent to concentration camps. Only Otto Frank (Anne’s father) survived. The house which they hid in has now been turned into a museum that is visited by thousands every day. Booking is essential as there are rarely any spare tickets left over on the day.
Another site which you will stumble upon without even meaning to is Dam Square. The Dam Square Massacre rocked the city in 1945 when German shooters killed dozens of celebrating locals from a balcony on the square’s corner.
There are many other historic sites in the city just waiting to be discovered. My favourite way of learning about the history of Amsterdam was on a canal boat tour.
Amsterdam would make for a great weekend break as the top historical sites can be explored in just a few days. You should definitely take a trip from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans if you have the time as it is a great place to step back in time!
Exploring history through art is a great tool and can be done very easily at the huge variety of Amsterdam’s art galleries. The Van Gogh Museum is extremely popular among tourists and offers a huge insight into the artist’s life and career.
The city is really beautiful too, with plenty of Instagram-worthy spots – particularly along the canals. Looking for the perfect caption? Check out my list of over 80 Amsterdam-themed Instagram captions.
Amsterdam’s range of historical sites has earned it a spot on my “best European cities to visit in 2024” list as there really is something for everyone and the sites cover a range of time periods.
Most Tourist-Friendly: Brussels
Brussels is an extremely friendly city to tourists and is very accessible to those who can only speak English. While most residents speak French or Dutch, a very high percentage of them are expats. In fact, Brussels’ population is over 36% international!
While it’s only a short train ride from Amsterdam, I found Brussels to have many more friendly locals and it definitely outweighs the Dutch capital.
You’ll certainly get away with speaking English in Brussels but locals still appreciate when you learn the basic manners such as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. I’d recommend learning these in French as I heard a lot more of it spoken than Dutch.
Every time I needed help in Brussels with directions locals were quick to spring into action and they also make great photographers too if you want a picture in front of a landmark!
The city has so many tourist attractions too, making it easy to plan an itinerary. And even better…lots of them are free!
Check out my 3-day Brussels itinerary here for a run-down of what to do in the city! My personal favourites include the EU Parlimentarium, the Natural Science Museum and the Atomium. You also can’t miss the opportunity to take a chocolate tour while in the chocolate capital of the world!
With so many tourist attractions and sights to see, along with the friendly, English-speaking locals, Brussels is one of the best European cities to visit in 2024.
Most Beautiful: Reykjavik
Reykjavik has a special place in my heart and I think it is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe.
Iceland’s capital certainly has an edge in that you can explore firey volcanoes, towering glaciers and black sandy beaches within an hour of driving, but the city itself should not be ignored.
While very small, Reykjavik has plenty of attractions and things to see. One of the things that makes the city so beautiful is the people.
Reykjavik has a very relaxed vibe with plenty of quaint shops, local restaurants and old-style Nordic buildings. The locals mimic the atmosphere and are very welcoming to tourists.
A tour guide on one of our excursions told us that it was in the nature of Icelandic people to always help others when they ask for it as they believe that anyone could be a “hidden person” and they will receive good fortune in return.
Reykjavik has some stunning buildings such as the Hallgrimskirkja, which gives some beautiful panoramic views from the tower. Taking a trip up is a must if you visit Iceland, as is seeing the church lit up at night.
Rainbow Street (leading to Hallgrimskirkja) is another great sight that all tourists love to keep an eye out for. The setting makes for some beautiful photos.
The city is so pretty at night and along the seafront of the city, you can have a bucket list moment! We stopped along the rocks at nighttime and managed to spot the Northern Lights dancing above the city and it was one of the most amazing feelings I’ve ever had.
While I recommend paying out for a tour to a remote location such as this one. If you see online that there is a high chance of the lights then you should definitely head down to the seafront to see if you can spot them above the water.
Using the ‘Aurora’ app is super useful to gauge how likely the lights are each evening and I’d recommend leaving it to book your tour unless there’s a high chance.
Don’t forget that in 2024, the Northern Lights are going to be the most prominent they have been in decades. So if you’re thinking about booking a trip to Iceland then I recommend doing it as soon as possible!
If you’re looking for the most beautiful and picturesque city to visit in 2024, then Reykjavik is definitely one of the best European cities to visit.
Best Activities: Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has so much charm and the city is packed with things to do. Being a city and right by the ocean definitely has its perks and the range of activities makes Dubrovnik a fabulous choice.
Perched on the edge of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik has the best range of things to do in my opinion – out of all the European cities I visited in 2023.
Walking the city walls was one of my favourite activities (even if it was scorching hot!) as the views out across the ocean and the city were just incredible.
We spent five days in Dubrovnik and could have done so much more in the city had we had more time.
The city’s beaches are just incredible and the ocean is perfect for snorkelling and swimming. Especially as you don’t need to worry too much about sharks, pollution or currents.
I highly recommend Bellevue Beach which is a sheltered cove with a cornered-off swimming area, a cave for exploring, a pebbled beach and crystal-clear water.
As Dubrovnik was one of the top filming locations for Game of Thrones there are plenty of tours and attractions to see that fans will appreciate. One of the most impressive stops is definitely Fort Lovrijenac which is known as the Red Keep in the series.
Ocean activities are very popular and I’d highly recommend trying your hand at kayaking along the coast. A sunset boat tour is also the perfect activity to relax after a long day exploring the city and it was one of my favourite things we did as it gave some incredible views of the city walls and coastline.
Watching the sun go down at the horizon was such a romantic moment but I could see it being equally as amazing with family and friends.
Best European Cities to Visit in 2024: Conclusion
And there you have it! My list of the best European cities to visit in 2024!
If you’re looking to tour some of Europe this year but don’t know what cities should be at the top of your list then taking my top five into consideration is a great idea.
I loved all of the cities that I visited in 2023, but these five stood out for a number of reasons.
Every European city has its own unique charm and no matter where you go each one will stick in your mind for one reason or another.
Enjoy your 2024 European travels and I hope you manage to find a city to fall in love with!
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