Top 10 Cities to Visit in Europe
Europe is an amazing place; everyone should make an effort to visit at least one place there in their lifetime. It is also one of the most popular continents to study in for college students. It offers a wide variety of cultures and exotic destinations. For students, it offers easy travel, accommodation, and enough history to span many many lectures.
Ah, Roma! If you are a history nut and love the sunshine, this is the place to go! The Romans had a huge influence on modern civilization, and they should, seeing as their empire once extended over most of Europe.
Popular Attractions: Vatican City, The Colosseum, etc
Under the Radar: The Food, try everything
Tips: Gelato!
Through movies and pop culture, Paris has turned into a fairytale destination for many; the city of love. Though I have personally never been, friends that have visited say it is somewhere that you just need to visit. Between the history, fashion week, and food, there is something for everyone!
Popular Attractions: The Louvre (free for students Fridays after 4:30pm), The Sun Palace, The Eiffel Tower
Under the Radar: Pari Roller, roller skate around the city for 3 hours every Friday night!
Tips: Keep a map of the Metro on you at all times
Beautiful, sun drenched Spain offers a scenery, architecture, beaches, and a great nightlife.
Popular Attractions: The Beach
Under the Radar: Open air markets are a must see
Tips: Relax, and make sure the research hostels well.
To put it simply, London is like the New York City of Europe...sort of. Nothing can really be compared to London. It is a business and culture hub, that has hosted the epic historical events, and was once the super power in Europe and the World. London is not one of those cities you can see in a weekend, I tried. You need at least a week to just scratch the surface of what is London. Retrace history, and don't forget the great night life, making it a great place for anyone to visit.
Popular Attractions: The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Platform 9 3/4
Under the Radar: The open air street market under the London Eye
Tips: the underground and trains are confusing, carry a map, but don't be afraid to get lost.
This city is gorgeous, with lots of history and scenery, though it is very commonly known for its Red Light District and other...activities. As my international adviser gave me, immerse yourself in another countries culture, just use common sense.
Popular Attractions: Red Light District, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank's House
Under the Radar: Special Cafe menus
Tips: No cameras in the Red Light District
Ireland isn't directly connected to mainland Europe, so things are just a little bit different. Not much, but just enough for you to notice something is different. The people are friendly and it's a gorgeous country. Dublin offers a great walking tour, lots and lots of bars,and is a business communication's hub.
Popular Attractions: The Guinness Factory and Storehouse, Trinity College, The Temple Bar
Under the Radar: Ditch the touristy bars and hit a hole in the wall grungy bar with old men singing in the corner
Tips: Keep and eye on the Euro exchange rate
Home of the gods! Remember elementary or primary school when you learned about Hercules, Zeus, and all of the other gods and goddesses? Welcome to their home. Plus, this is where the Olympics began, and where the summer Olympics took place in 2004. And this is Greece, relax on a beach basking in Apollo's glow and listening to the seas music. Don't forget the nightlife!
Popular Attractions: Athena's Temple, the Acropolis, Cape of Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
Under the Radar: Free bike tour, Syntagma Square
Tips: Try walking around at Night, cities reveal a different personality when the sun goes down.
Edinburgh is like London, just on a smaller scale. My favorite thing about it was that it can be seen in a weekend, and isn't as overwhelming as London can be. Make sure to take a tour of the Scottish Highlands while you are there, the views are breathtaking, and you can go monster hunting for Nessie. Here's a tip though, make sure you book a tour that uses a small bus, not a huge 50 person one. The smaller ones offer a more personalized tour, and its harder to get motion sickness on the windy roads. Plus, Edinburgh is the inspiration for J.K. Rowling's famous Harry Potter series.
Popular Attractions: The Elephant House, Free Walking Tour, The Castle and Royal Mile
Under the Radar: Free walking tour of the city (check with you hostel), Hogwarts... for real.
Tips: Go to the Elephant House Cafe at a random time, since it is popular with tourists and locals alike.
Istanbul is said to be one of the most energetic and hippest cities in Europe. It has an endless abundance of bars, galleries, clubs, and Ottoman mosques. It is also a huge fashion hub. It's hot, both literally and figuratively, and you can relax while being surrounded by non stop energy.
Popular Attractions: Daily walking tours
Under the Radar: Go to the local's bars
Tips: Bring sunscreen
While Rome is the Old, Milan represents the New Italy. It is a hub for fashion, cars, and movies. Take a break from the overwhelming European history and relax on the beach, or window shop through one of the most expensive shopping area's in Europe.
Popular Attractions: Quadrilatero dOro (Golden Quad)
Under the Radar: The funky design district of Isola.
Tips: Make sure to catch some Calcio (football)
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top Backpacking Cities
Check out these top 7 destinations for a backpacking trip, including top site-seeing locations and ways to get around the city. Read more »
10 Cities to See Before You Die
Need a new place to explore and experience? Well here are the top ten cities you have to see during your lifetime. Read more »
