Not every European city deserves a second visit, and not every one deserves to be crossed off after the first. Some keep turning up something new on every visit. Others get outshone by what’s a few hours down the road. And a few, like a Baltic capital that doesn’t always make the itinerary, are easy to overlook until someone points them out.
Paris and the Case for Going Back
Emily Pogue spent six months visiting 13 major cities with a slow-travel mindset, because she wanted to get to know the places she stayed in. Some cities still leave more to see than time allows. Dale Peterson, who has visited every European capital, lived in Paris during college and still feels he has only scratched the surface despite returning often. Its 20 arrondissements, or districts, could fill a lifetime.
Edinburgh Has the Medieval Look
Edinburgh is Pogue’s most-wanted return trip, and she says it’s the best spot in the UK for a truly medieval-feeling city. The castle towers over town and is visible from many different spots. Add Mary King’s Close, a preserved 17th-century alley, and a whiskey tour on regional Scotch varieties. Peterson rates it too, calling it a gorgeous Gothic city and an alternative to London.
Amsterdam Splits the Vote
Pogue can’t wait to return to Amsterdam, and her highlights include the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and Foodhallen’s bitterballen, a Dutch snack she describes as a deep-fried stew ball. Peterson found the center felt like an overpriced theme park of souvenir shops and crowds, and he isn’t rushing back. They overlap on neighborhoods, since she favored local ones and he enjoyed quieter streets outside the center.
Lisbon Keeps Prices Friendly
Peterson counts Lisbon among his favorite European cities, citing hilly streets, seaside views, lively nights, and sweet, flaky pastel de nata. He has found it typically more affordable than other Western European capitals for hotels, food, and transportation. Step outside the tourist areas and he enjoyed plenty of great meals for under 10 euros. He goes as far as saying it has all the makings of the perfect city.
Contrasts in Bucharest, Hidden Corners in Athens
Bucharest is full of contrasts, with blocky communist-era buildings sitting among elegant Art Nouveau ones that once earned the city the nickname Paris of the East. Peterson also toured the colossal Palace of Parliament. Athens can be loud and hectic, but he has visited three times and keeps finding something new. One find is Anafiotika, a neighborhood that looks like a Cycladic Islands village in the middle of the city.
Vilnius Deserves a Spot on the Itinerary
Peterson says Lithuania’s capital deserves a spot on more European itineraries, since it doesn’t always make the cut. He calls the Baltic city incredibly livable, with a big Old Town and lots of parks and green space. His favorite stops include the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania for the country’s history, Gediminas Castle Tower for the view, and Bernardine Garden, where he relaxed with a book.
When the Better Trip Is Next Door
Pogue enjoyed Zurich, though she says the main reason she wouldn’t return is its neighbors, Alpine villages like Wengen and Mürren that sit just a few hours away. Cardiff Castle delivered, with 2,000 years of history, from ancient ruling families to an underground World War II bunker. She found the rest of the city less impressive; with 400 castles across Wales, she’ll try its more remote parts next time.
Two Capitals That Didn’t Click
London has free museums and a diverse food scene, but Peterson finds it overhyped and expensive, and he’d rather visit the Cotswolds, the Lake District, or the Scottish Highlands. Helsinki is clean, though to him it feels a little too sterile. He saw the most popular attractions in a single day and struggled to fill his time, preferring places like Copenhagen or Stockholm, which he thought offered more to do.
Edinburgh Is the Common Ground
Edinburgh is the one city both travel writers recommend, and Amsterdam is the one they split on. Most of the skips come down to a better option elsewhere. That means the Alps instead of Zurich, the rest of Wales instead of Cardiff, the Cotswolds or the Highlands instead of London, and Copenhagen or Stockholm instead of Helsinki. Lisbon, Athens, Bucharest, Vilnius, and Paris round out Peterson’s return list.
