# What is the first city that comes to mind when I say "Greatest City in Europe"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258 "2010-01-24T18:56:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/61 "2010-01-25T17:03:50Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Sorry but it’s hard to beat the pot and boobies of Amsterdam in my reckoning. I lived there for 10 years. It’s not as great as all that; the place is filled with tourists looking for pot and boobies 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/62 "2010-01-25T17:09:50Z")
Oh, and to answer the OP - sort of; Of all the cities I’ve been, the most enjoyable has been Gent - been there 8 times or so and it’s always been nice, it’s just not very big. Paris is pretty but I haven’t been there for ages. London is big and expensive. Rome is amazing to look at, but I’ve only been there once. Marseille seems nice too, but I’ve only been there one afternoon. Brussels is ok, I guess. I’ve heard lots of good things about Berlin, but I’ve not been there yet. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/63 "2010-01-25T17:10:03Z")
Paris, then London. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/64 "2010-01-25T17:31:03Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Oh lord. Obviously it wasn’t the first thing to come to mind, because it took a mention by **Desert\_Nomad** in another thread to remind me, but _Istanbul_.\ I prefer Constantinople, myself. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/65 "2010-01-25T18:44:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I prefer Constantinople, myself. I would have, but once I had a date in Constantinople and she was waiting in Istanbul! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/66 "2010-01-25T18:53:21Z")
IMHO, “in Europe” excludes London and Istanbul, so my choice is: Florence. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/67 "2010-01-25T19:06:51Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > IMHO, “in Europe” excludes London and Istanbul, so my choice is: > > Florence. If Istanbul isn’t in Europe, where is it? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/68 "2010-01-25T19:12:22Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > If Istanbul isn’t in Europe, where is it? It straddles Europe and Asia. Some people consider it to be all in one or all in the other. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/69 "2010-01-25T19:27:43Z")
Accrington! (Or Paris) ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/70 "2010-01-25T19:48:54Z")
Istanbul. I can’t actually believe anyone would seriously suggest London. I live in it. While I concede it has some good point, the ‘greatest’ it most certainly is not. Still, it takes all kinds. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/71 "2010-01-25T19:53:13Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Istanbul. > > I can’t actually believe anyone would seriously suggest London. I live in it. While I concede it has some good point, the ‘greatest’ it most certainly is not. Still, it takes all kinds. If you live in it you’re used to it. I have only visited it. Compared to a typical Northern town it is another world. It is fascinating place to be in for someone who’s only ever seen it on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/72 "2010-01-25T20:01:19Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > It straddles Europe and Asia. Some people consider it to be all in one or all in the other. Most of Istanbul is on the European side of the Bosphorus. Certainly all of the notable sights, both ancient and modern, are. The Asian side is pretty much entirely residential. If you have to pick one or the other, it’s a European city. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/73 "2010-01-25T22:54:26Z")
I would have to say Paris. Do I win? ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/74 "2010-01-25T23:04:22Z")
Paris ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/75 "2010-01-25T23:43:17Z")
London, though it’s not my favorite. It’s not even my favorite city in the UK – that’s Edinburgh. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/76 "2010-01-26T00:53:36Z")
My spontaneous choice, without having read the thread or without giving it much of a thought, was Paris. I think it helps that it’s located smack dab in the center of Western Europe, besides all the historical and cultural importance. I’m not sure if it’s the greatest. Truth is, besides being bohemian and romantic, it’s also a bit grim and gothic. But since I haven’t been to either London or Rome, that’s what I’d have to say. Maybe Prague or Copenhagen for the coziness factor. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/77 "2010-01-26T01:10:52Z")
London. It’s a massively sprawling, brawling and growing alive city like few I’ve ever visited. London is on the make and one the mend in a way Paris, with its beauty and self-consciousness can only aspire to. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/78 "2010-01-26T11:08:02Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > I can’t actually believe anyone would seriously suggest London. I live in it. Good point. The fact that **ianzin** lives in London definitely counts against it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SazChez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@SazChez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SazChez)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/79 "2010-01-27T11:33:12Z")
My first thought was Barcelona. I personally don’t like London… And I’m British. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258/80 "2010-01-27T12:46:02Z")
Athens or Rome, in terms of history. London or Paris is the answer I’d expect, with London shading it for anglophones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-city-that-comes-to-mind-when-i-say-greatest-city-in-europe/526258.md?page=5)