posted by Travel Cat on Jun 26
Best Cities in Europe?
This is based on the places I have been in Europe (or are intending to go to in the near future after recommendations from friends!). It is only a brief description of the feel of the place, just to tease you to investigate further…….
We are still quite northern to start here - but it does get warmer from number 8! Promise….
6) Prague, Czech Republic
If you love the whole fairy-tale look, then you will love it here. Perched on a huge hill, across the wide meandering dark river and over the ornately decorated bridges sits a beautiful castle!
The whole city, although with all the modern trapping, looks like a story book. Tall, colourful buildings line the streets, surrounding cobbled squares and walled gardens. Nearer the castle, there are steep steps and small shops and cafes crammed in, and in all shapes and sizes. Enter one on the street and be amazed as it then splits off into different levels, and around corners. This place warrants a second visit, and go there in winter if you can, as the castle looks great in the snow!
7) Paris, France
The rumours are true about this place - even when it’s raining; this city is romantic. You’ll find couples sheltering in little bistro’s with a steaming cup of coffee, or running hand in hand through the streets to find an obliging doorway for their cuddles!
If you love food and art you should be right at home here, and even if you don’t, you will almost certainly find a part of Paris that suits your needs! Time after time people visit this welcoming place to spend a few short days wandering the streets, as they will always be guaranteed a great vacation.
As with nearly all great cities, Paris has a wide sweeping river running through it’s centre and the peace along it’s banks are well known - and painted by many! However, don’t hire a car here if you aren’t a confident driver, or don’t like small cars!!!
Venice, Italy
Even in the cold weather, this city will please the traveller. I actually stayed on a separate island to Venice itself, so I had to catch a boat in to town everyday - more exotic than the train or bus!
From my hotel, I could see the skyline of the whole island, making it’s allure more real than being right in the town looking out your window at the wall of someone else’s hotel. The town centre is so crammed in, that some streets are little more than 3 feet wide, as are some of the lesser used canals! This makes it great for someone like me who loves the whole ‘cuteness’ of this retained character from many years before.
Get a map otherwise you could end up trapped in it’s maze of lanes and paths - don’t rely on landmarks to escape either - we ended up like a silly cartoon and kept reappearing in the same square from another entrance, leaving again only to end up back in the same place! How can that happen to grown ups!!
9) Barcelona, Spain
Not having been here myself, I can only explain the delights that await the traveller, and the very things that are calling out to me to visit.
With an intense history or invasions and defences between fellow Spaniards and invading ‘moors’, this city really has got some great architecture and culture to rival any great city. With the walled city and plenty of ornate churches to ponder over you may not have time to visit all the museums if that is what you were hoping to squeeze in!
Then there is the fantastic food, and the views over the Mediterranean and the amazing people you’ll meet and the fantastic weather…….
10) Lisbon, Portugal
This country has a rich history for adventure and history, and it’s ships travelled the world collecting culture, artifacts and several other countries!
This harbour-side city is a mini reflection of that great era, where great buildings display their heritage, and main square after square in the city centre are filled with statues and monuments dedicated to various ‘heroes’. And with an al-fresco feel throughout the day you can relax in the sun without the pressures of a normal city - and there is a lot of sun!
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