What is the most interesting city in Europe?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m thinking:

  1. London
  2. Prague
  3. St. Petersburg
  4. Athens
  5. Barcelcona
2

I’d put Rome, Paris and Vienna above all five on that list.

3

Oh man, there’s simply no way you’re going to come up with a single answer for this. The answer just depends on you. What are you most interested in? If it’s ancient history, Rome might be the most interesting city. If it’s fashion, it might be Paris or Milan. If it’s nightlife, it could be Berlin. And on and on and on.

Having said that, I am partial to London. As the biggest city in Europe (depending on whether or not you count Moscow, IIRC), it has a little of everything. You want fashion, you want history, you want nightlife, you want museums, you want food, you want royalty – whatever, London’s got it.

4

I have to agree that it is entirely too subjective for a definitive answer. Here are MY top 5 cities based on places I wish I could live:

  1. Tallinn
  2. Budapest
  3. Istandbul
  4. Dubrovnik
  5. Prague
5

After careful consideration, my top five, slightly non-random, list has ended up;

  1. London
  2. Prague
  3. Dublin
  4. Paris
  5. Amsterdam

Good beer is an important factor, so almost anywhere in Germany comes in at number 6.

6

Of the cities I’ve been to (and that leaves out a lot):

  1. Paris
  2. London
  3. Amsterdam
  4. Vienna
  5. Florence
7

I had the chance to travel around Europe a little bit a couple years ago, and I agree with what Rodgers01 said; it really depends on what you’re looking for.

Vienna struck me as very well preserved, with the stately buildings and perfectly manicured grounds in the parks, and you can go to a different opera every day of the year. It was almost like the Hollywood backlot of what an American would expect an old-world city to be like.

Berlin was fascinating in a different way. It seemed that most of its fame came in the recent past, much of it during my lifetime. Walking on a patch of ground that 20 years ago was legitimately known as the “death strip” is a powerful history lesson.

Prague is somewhere in the middle. You can see the window where the Defenestration of Prague began the Thirty Years’ War in 1618, there’s still a noticeable influence from the Communist era, and the whole place is embracing capitalism and has probably changed somewhat just since I was there.

And Paris seemed to be just getting on with its business, and there are works of art in the museums that will make you weep with joy.

8

Best cities is a tough list. I agree with others’ comments about what it is you’re looking for. Hmmmm.

Prague
Rome and Florence
Paris
Lisbon
Vienna

I guess. I’ve had fun in most cities, with the possible exception of the following:

Bucharest
Sofia
Oslo
Belgrade
Helsinki

9

Pavel Banya, Bulgaria!

Right?

I know you’re all planning to visit me…

10

Must be a helluva big window to fit an entire city through.

When you’re tired of London you’re…well, you’re tired.

Copenhagen is…well, maybe interesting is too strong a word compared to capitals of upheaval and ferment like Vienna, but it’s certainly lively, cultured and scenic.

11

hasn’t been to Vienna yet

Venice should be in there
And Pompeii (though that’s more an attraction than a city…)

12

My personal list:

  1. Budapest
  2. Rome
  3. Oxford
  4. Copenhagen

Past that I’m not sure. That’s just my personal list, though, and I’ve never been to Prague. London is too familiar, Paris I’ve been to too many times and in a lot of ways it’s all “look at me, I’m Paris”. Budapest I only spent two days in but I’ve got to find the time to go back. It’s just amazingly awesome, the Americans haven’t all found it yet, it’s cheap, the people are so nice, and it’s just this fascinating mixture of stuff.

13

Vienna
Barcelona
Berlin
Prague
Rome

Been to them all and Vienna is without a doubt beautiful.

Paris is grim

14

London
Paris
Barcelona
Lisbon
Prague

15

Oh, and Cologne would be somewhere round there. Or possibly Budapest.

16
  1. Venice
  2. London
  3. Rome

After that, I find it hard to apply any order.

17

Strangely, I hated Venice with a passion. Dirtier, polluted and worse-smelling than even the worst bits of London. I could imagine it being one of the most beautiful places on earth only if you could clear all of the people out of it.

18

Budapest is most certainly interesting. You can find almost anything you’re looking for there: scenery, architecture, sex, drugs, food. It was quite wild when I was there last in about 1991.

19

I am stunned that no one has mentioned Madrid yet, but I will certainly add my vote to Budapest.

20

Yep, it’s got a surprising amount in common with London. And as London was the centre of the world in the 19th century, so Venice was of the Renaissance world.

I loath London…the OP asked about interesting cities, not beautiful or enjoyable ones.