The classic European cities you need to see

The classic European cities you need to see

If Europe has one thing, it’s beautiful cities. Rolling countryside gives way to imposing architecture, history, culture and that indescribable vibe only European cities can offer. While there’s plenty to discover—made ever easier by cheap flights and interrailing—there are six classic destinations that belong on any traveller’s list.

Rome                       

If you arrive in Rome via train or use public transport from the airport, your first impression of this historic city will be the Termini area. Hardly inspiring, don’t judge a city on its train station; walk a short while to proper Rome and start winding your way through the ancient stories at every turn. A little alley to the side of Piazza Campidoglio offers the best views of the Roman Forum, another illuminates Colonna Traiana, while yet more house hole-in-the-wall pizzerias, with the smells of cheese and dough beckoning. Bustling streets offer all the shopping you could want; turn the corner and look, more ruins, more architecture, more history. The Eternal City is brimming with it, pairing the vibrancy of a modern metropolis with the culture and majesty of the glory days of the Roman Empire.

Plus, how many places offer a city within a city? A visit to the Vatican City is a must for anyone, regardless of religion—join the hordes of tourists shuffling through the museum, all with a single goal in mind: the Sistene Chapel. It’s worth it. On Sundays at midday, the Pope addresses and blesses the crowds that form on the Piazza San Pietro from the world’s most famous balcony.

While the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Coliseum and Vatican Basilica deserve ample time, don’t miss the Bocco della Verita, Circo Massimo or Spanish Steps.

Barcelona

The jewel of Catalunya, Barcelona is a seaside city awash with culture, gin, tapas and sunshine. The city that inspired Picasso offers a window into the times that shaped this area, with the Roman-era city walls and shadowy lanes of the Gothic quarter contrasting with the Gaudi Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Start with a wander along Barcelona’s aorta: La Rambla. Running through the heart of the city, charming carrers lead off to hidden squares, tucked-away bookshops and endless purveyors of Barcelona’s famed tapas. St Josep market is an experience in itself—traverse the aisles in search of colourful fruit smoothies and all the food your heart desires. On the opposite side, a little further down, Placa Reial serves as the perfect backdrop to lunching in the shade of a palm tree and perching on the edge of the fountains for a classic Instagram shot.

For the best photos, Park Güell offers the Insta-famous mosaic wall, beautifully symmetrical columns and caverns shaped like waves. Not that the rest of Barcelona doesn’t provide: the Mediterranean sea laps at the sun-drenched shorelines of the beaches, statues pose against clear skies and sparkling fountains dominate tiny squares.

London

Grandeur and antiquity abound in England’s capital—historical landmarks rub shoulders with striking innovation, the skyline punctuated with charming pubs, sprawling parks and reminders of the city’s vibrant past. The blue plaques offer snippets of history on every street, copious theatres showcase the best of the old and the new, and crowds of people from everywhere spill onto the streets from busy pubs at all times of year. The attic of England, London’s museums curate the wonders of the world, from ancient history to contemporary art, while unabashedly hipster areas showcase the truly global nature of the city, offering food, fun and frivolity. Diversity, thy name is London.

Commuters race through busy streets, cobbled alleys and crowded tube stations, tourists flock to every funny road name, statue and red bus they see—Londoners are everywhere, the city drawing them in from all over the world with its colour, community and character.

Sophisticated and bustling in its vibe, London has something for everyone and would take a lifetime to fully discover.

Venice

Who hasn’t heard of Venice or pictured themselves drifting along the canals, glass of prosecco in hand, and romantic beau at their side? Venice is a paragon of marble grandeur, an exquisite city built on water. Venice enchants: tourists are enticed from all corners of the globe and crowds dominate the narrow streets. But cross a bridge or take a back alley and you’ll find a quiet, secluded city—take the vaporetto to Venice Lido and you’ll find a fabulous stretch of public beach, mercifully quiet compared to the daunting volumes of day-trippers. In fact, spend all your time on the vaporettos; forgo the expensive water taxis and jump on the water buses. Cruise along the Grand Canal for a fraction of the price and exactly the same view; trundle out to Murano to see the famous glass blowers; and head to Burano for its vibrant colourful houses, painted so fishermen could see their homes from way out in the lagoon.

Explore Venice’s main sights, starting with the Bridge of Sighs, Piazza San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San Marco. But take a wander off the beaten path and discover quaint neighbourhood churches, sunny squares and the tiny bars so loved by the locals.

Paris

The only city to have spawned a syndrome, a Japanese psychiatrist theorised the excitement resulting from visiting Paris causes the heart to accelerate, giddiness and shortness of breath. All perfectly reasonable reactions to the capital of culture, fashion, food and France. Home to imposing cathedrals, haute couture, and ancient palaces dragged kicking and screaming into modernity with a well-placed glass pyramid, Paris is an eclectic collection of experiences. The Eiffel Tower is an absolute must, along with the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre; link them all with the Champs-Elysées for a perfect day out. Make the trek to Montmartre for the cathedral and best views of the city, climb the steps of the Notre Dame and gossip with the gargoyles, and round out your trip with the frivolity of the Moulin Rouge show.

Try something in every bakery you pass and drink the wine at every occasion. Peer through the windows of the world-famous French fashion houses and lament at your bank balance or waist circumference. Admire the Parisians strutting their way around their city, eye-watering heels clacking on the paved streets, cigarette in hand and beret perched precariously. Everything is beautiful in Paris.