Trendiest European Cities

The reputation of this city on England's south coast has been bubbling up for a while, but like its Premier League soccer team, it is now well and truly on the cusp of elite status. Home to miles of pebbled beach, diversion-filled Brighton Palace Pier (in addition to the dramatic remnants of another pier), the eccentric Royal Pavilion and a lively nightlife scene, the city moves to the beat of its own drummer—and you’ll love pretending to be a local for a few days. After you’ve seen the sights—including the shops of the historic Lanes area—and taken plenty of long walks on the beach, make for the nearby South Downs National Park for sensational scenery and fine recreation opportunities. 

Sicily was trending up way before The White Lotus landed on its shores, but now the buzz is palpable. The island’s biggest city blends the rough and the smooth perfectly, offering up both polished-up, elegant streets and back alleys full of down-to-earth eateries and bars serving up some of the best arancini you’ve had in your life. Palermo also boasts a magnificent mish-mash of architectural styles and sits within easy reach of the dreamy beach town of Cefalù. 

The capital of Georgia is renowned for the romantically-faded facades of its Old Town which sit beside modern architecture and right under the majestic surrounding Tbilisi Mountains—and more and more people are adding on a stop in this part of the Caucasus. Make the journey up the cliff to see Metekhi Church—and enjoy views of the city below you—before crossing the wavy Bridge of Peace and visiting the Georgian National Museum to learn all about the culture of this ancient nation. All the sights will play second fiddle to the hospitality of Georgians that you’re likely to experience though in addition to all the great food and wine you’ll enjoy in Tbilisi, which is almost always a highlight of a trip here. A few highlights include overstuffed Georgian Dumplings and Khachapuri (cheese-laced bread) and Saperavi red wine. 

It's not Munich, it's not Berlin and the locals wouldn't have it any other way. Arguably Germany's hippest city—and one which comes with a touch of anti-establishment energy—Hamburg's position as one of Europe's most important ports has given it an atmosphere unlike anything else in the country. Explore hip cafes and galleries by day—or if the sun is out lounge by one of the city's famous urban lakes or riverside beaches—then get swept away in the city's electric nightlife scene at night.  

Portugal’s second-largest city is no longer playing second fiddle to Lisbon as travelers who head up north are leaving telling stories full of panoramic vistas and sipping sensational wine on Porto's handsome harborside. Other highlights that have turned Porto trendy are the myriad of cafes and boutiques that can compete with any European city on quality and the fact the city is the perfect jumping-off point to explore the bucolic Douro River Valley.  

This Polish city on the Baltic Sea has been at the forefront of many important chapters in history—and is home to a unique architectural and cultural mix different from many other cities in Poland. While you’re certain to have an intriguing time exploring that facet of the city, you’ll leave even more impressed with modern Gdansk. Learn about how the city was the place where the first shots of World War II were fired and its role in helping to end communism in Poland before heading out to cafes and bars of the Wrzeszcz neighborhood or taking a day trip to the soft sands of nearby beach town Sopot.  

You probably already know that this city in southwestern France is renowned for its wine, but there’s much more hiding behind the label. The city has completed a much-applauded urban spruce-up and its reputation across Europe has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. Bordeaux is second only to Paris when it comes to historical monuments and simply standing outside of the grand Place de la Bourse—near the beloved reflecting pool—will have you wondering how in the world it took you this long to get here. Oh, naturally their new La Cité du Vin museum attraction is one of the finest places in the world to learn about wine. 

This resort city in southwestern Turkey sits directly on the sea and boasts an old town full of twisty lanes paved with sun-faded stone. There aren’t many places on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea that can combine history and carefree beach fun like Antalya, and the city’s trendline with travelers is nearly as sunny as its weather. 

After years of being skipped in favor of Krakow by far too many, the capital of Poland is ready for prime time and pulling in plenty of travelers. Just to be clear, you should still go to Krakow if you can squeeze it in, but Warsaw will win you over too with its combination of big-city buzz, cool neighborhoods like Praga and fascinating sights. This is to say nothing of the sensational food available here, as this city offers up a chance to taste your way around Poland all while staying in one place. 

 

Has any other city benefited as much from the rise in foodie tourism? Like a few other cities on this list, Bologna has been on the upswing for a while now, but the momentum shows no signs of stopping. Known for its lively student population, pretty porticos and towers in addition to its unreal food scene, Bologna will surprise and delight. Due to its central location, you’re probably going to be swinging through Bologna on a trip through Italy anyway, so why not step off, take a food tour (you’re sure to try some Mortadella and meaty Bolognese sauce) and leave in love with this city.

Belgrade’s fascinating history, cosmopolitan flair and scenic location on the Danube River combine to make it feel like nothing else in Europe and the city is turning up more and more on itineraries. Long loved by long-term travelers, the city is just as stimulating during a quick visit. Go to the Nikola Tesla Museum to learn all about the famous Serbian inventor and futurist, see the iconic church of Saint Sava before watching the sunset from Kalemegdan Fortress and heading out for a meal in the bohemian Skadarlija district. 

Let’s get one thing clear off the top: you don’t go to Thessaloniki for the beaches. There are a few pretty strips of sand on the outskirts of this port city, but the city itself is so fascinating you may never want to grab that bus to the beach. Greece’s second biggest city and the cultural and culinary capital of northern Greece, Thessaloniki offers a true off the beaten path big city experience and the city’s location on the water provides for a beautiful backdrop for the experience. 

Roman ruins. Independent art galleries. Cool cafes & wine bars. Cobblestoned streets. Surely a European city like this is overrun with tourists? Well, Bulgaria’s second biggest city is a beauty and it’s just now starting to march up the rankings of trendy cities in Europe so you’re going to want to get there as soon as you can. 

With expanded flights from the US, a name-drop in a Justin Bieber song (“Peaches” if you’re wondering) and a starring role in the recent Nic Cage comedy-action flick The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Mallorca is on the rise and Palma is a fine base from which to explore the island. Overflowing with solid sights (the Gothic Palma Cathedral is remarkable) A-list restaurants & bars and with great beaches on its doorstep, Palma will have you scratching your head as to how it took this long for North Americans to slide Mallorca into the European must-see list.    

It may sit more in the town category than a city, but you won’t mind one bit when you’re staring at the stunning fjord-like setting of Kotor’s Old Town and surrounds from the hills above town. Croatia has been attracting the beautiful crowds for well over a decade now, but those who have been venturing a little further south to Montenegro are leaving delighted with what they've found, so join them now before the word gets around to everybody’s social media feed.