{"id":40909,"date":"2026-05-13T14:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/40909\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T14:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T14:28:15","slug":"the-best-cities-in-europe-to-visit-on-your-first-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/40909\/","title":{"rendered":"The best cities in Europe to visit on your first trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

What makes a city a great pick for your first time in Europe? Famous wonders of the world, great art museums<\/a> and impeccable food are all table stakes. But there are a few other things worth considering before you decide on a spot.<\/p>\n

Traveling to Europe for the first time is a big experience, but it doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming. It will always be simpler to navigate a city that speaks the language you know, and many major European cities double as tourist hubs where English is common (though learning a handful of key phrases is always a good idea). These destinations are usually a bit easier to reach by air as well \u2014 you\u2019re far more likely to get an affordable direct flight to Paris than Tallinn.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, this list is focused on cities that aren\u2019t just world famous but simple to navigate while you get your continental sea legs. With the exception of the cities in the United Kingdom and Turkey, these destinations are subject to EU entry requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

London, United Kingdom\"High-angle<\/p>\n

London is the natural first stop in Europe for many Americans, whether it’s for a stroll through Hyde Park or the direct flights.<\/p>\n

(Gary Yeowell via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

With thousand-year-old food markets, palaces rising from verdant, green city parks and foxes creeping between the Gothic tombs in Highgate Cemetery, London can feel downright magical. However, it\u2019s also a modern megalopolis. For the U.S. native, it\u2019s a lot like New York, but with the whimsy dial turned way up.<\/p>\n

London has some of the best museums in the world, excellent food and a whole community of urban river barge dwellers<\/a>. A first-time trip can include a visit to Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Shakespeare\u2019s Globe.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, though, that London can be pricier than many other European capitals, and that\u2019s worth weighing before you visit. However, it\u2019s also English-speaking, so if you\u2019re just getting your feet wet with international travel, the ability to talk to people fluently will likely cut any anxiety down considerably. There are also direct flights from many parts of the country. Just know that U.S. citizens visiting the U.K. need an Electronic Travel Authorization.<\/a><\/p>\n

Paris, France\"Outdoor<\/p>\n

In Paris, they’ll still usually sell you a croissant in English.<\/p>\n

(Pgiam via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Unquestionably, Paris is one of the world\u2019s most iconic cities. It\u2019s a city with its own mood: wide boulevards, caf\u00e9s along the Seine and the Eiffel Tower presiding over it all. Fans of 20th-century modern art will thrill at the city\u2019s collections of Impressionism and Modernism, while history buffs can explore the Palace of Versailles<\/a> and the catacombs. And while there are plenty of French bistros and brasseries perfect for long lunches, the city also has an incredible international dining scene that\u2019s well worth exploring.<\/p>\n

Paris is overflowing with tourists, the metro is easy to navigate and it\u2019s usually fairly straightforward to fly to. The city does have a reputation for being a bit persnickety about non-French speakers, but today, there\u2019s significant infrastructure in place to help foreigners navigate it in any language. (Though again, practicing your bonjour and merci will go a long way.)<\/p>\n

Rome, Italy\"Sunrise<\/p>\n

Rome’s tourist industry caters to all, whether you’re here to see the Vatican and the Colosseum or to simply meander through the cobblestone streets.<\/p>\n

(Yasonya via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

A perennial wonder, Rome is one of the world’s great gems with a slice of antiquity at its heart. The Colosseum, Roman Forum and the Vatican would be enough to make this place special, but there\u2019s so much more to see and do. Don\u2019t overlook Rome\u2019s smaller museums<\/a>, which can be less crowded than the major tourist sites, and outdoor markets, like Campo de\u2019 Fiori. And of course, an aperitivo before dinner is a great way to begin the evening.<\/p>\n

English isn\u2019t the dominant language in Italy, of course, but Rome\u2019s economy is deeply tied to tourism. Because of this, it\u2019s simple enough to get around in English. Though don\u2019t worry \u2014\u00a0you can still gesture like an Italian when you order your linguine, even if you don\u2019t speak it.<\/p>\n

Dublin, Ireland\"Dublin,<\/p>\n

This city’s in English, but with a distinctly Irish twist.<\/p>\n

(kickstand via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s capital, Dublin, is steeped in James Joyce lore and plenty of opportunities for a nice pint of Guinness. While you may or may not be able to get a flight straight to Dublin Airport from your local hub in the States, it\u2019s generally a simple connection from London if direct flights aren’t available.<\/p>\n

With English as its official language, Dublin is an easy first step outside the United States. Green rolling hills and coastline invite you out of the city, so it\u2019s easy to tack on a few days in the countryside. Unlike the U.K., as an EU member state, Ireland does not require visas for U.S. citizens traveling there for tourism purposes.<\/p>\n

Athens, Greece\"The<\/p>\n

Athens has enough history within its borders for weeks of sightseeing, but it also provides access to islands and Greece’s mountainous North.<\/p>\n

(Dado Daniela via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

With the ancient Acropolis as its spiritual center, a visit to Athens can feel like looking into a snow globe of antiquity. A modern city in its own right, Athens is dotted with landmarks from Plato’s time and beyond.<\/p>\n

The city offers a simple rail link from the airport into the city center. Wander the hillsides around the Parthenon, sample stuffed grape leaves by archaeological sites and trek to the top of Lycabettus Hill for a view across the city.<\/p>\n

But Athens isn\u2019t only a stupendously beautiful city \u2014 it also affords access to the Cyclades islands by ferry, the Peloponnese to the west and northern Greece by train.<\/p>\n

Barcelona, Spain\"The<\/p>\n

Welcome to the city where everyone lisps.<\/p>\n

(SHansche via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Although Spanish is one of Barcelona\u2019s two official languages \u2014 Catalan being the other \u2014 this colorful city on Spain\u2019s northeastern coast is a perfect first trip for Spanish speakers. It\u2019s also fairly convenient for English speakers, with an inviting tourist industry. Visit Barcelona for a few days, then travel to Madrid to see the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n

Barcelona is a city of unique neighborhoods, including the Eixample district, where you\u2019ll encounter its famous octagonal city blocks laid out in a neat grid, and find the Bas\u00edlica de la Sagrada Fam\u00edlia. With winding spires designed by Gaud\u00ed, a Picasso museum and sparkling ocean views, Barcelona is the personification of vibrance. Late nights and afternoon siestas provide a truly novel energy. It\u2019s not to be missed.<\/p>\n

Berlin, Germany\"Urban<\/p>\n

In a way, Berlin is one of Europe’s most modern cities, and an inflection point for the historical dramas of the 20th century.<\/p>\n

(RICOWde via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

At the juncture of Eastern and Western Europe, Berlin is an edgy city of art, techno and canal parks. Divided between the Americans and Soviets after World War II, it\u2019s a city of dichotomies: subways on the west side and tram cars on the east.<\/p>\n

Berlin has its fair share of world-class museums like the Altes Museum on Museum Island<\/a>, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Spree River, as well as handsome parks and nightclubs, so there\u2019s something to do for all sorts of travelers. English is also fairly ubiquitous across the city. Fly in, and it’s often a simple metro ride from the airport to your hotel.<\/p>\n

Istanbul, Turkey\"Ornate<\/p>\n

How many names can most cities boast? Istanbul has been Constantinople, New Rome and Byzantium in its long and varied history.<\/p>\n

(Dave G Kelly via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most classic city where East and West influence meet is Istanbul. Once home to the Ottomans, Romans and Byzantines, it\u2019s a city with a wealth of history and art. Part European, part Middle Eastern, it spans the Bosporus Strait, which runs between the Sea of Marmara, just beyond the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. This geography makes the city critical to trade.<\/p>\n

This welcoming city is full of Ottoman palaces, UNESCO World Heritage sites and opportunities to experience a heritage of cultural exchange. Turkish is Istanbul\u2019s official language; however, with a long history of tourism and trade, the city is fairly convenient for English speakers. Guides and tours can simplify the experience for first-time travelers. Though Turkey is not in the EU, U.S. citizens can still enter without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh, Scotland\"A<\/p>\n

Edinburgh is a city that feels like an Arthurian legend.<\/p>\n

(joe daniel price via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

With a cozy, Arthurian charm, Edinburgh is a wonderful town of literature, art and castles. The Edinburgh Castle looms over the center of the old town from Castle Rock, while Arthur\u2019s Seat, a craggy grass-covered mountain, looks down on it from the southeast. The University of Edinburgh, founded over 400 years ago, and the Edinburgh College of Art, founded over 250 years ago, are both internationally renowned. The city\u2019s castles, old town and sweeping vistas can feel like a step into mythology, where the Waters of the Leith wend through reedy banks and mist creeps along the foot of the castle home to James VI, the man for whom Shakespeare wrote Macbeth.<\/p>\n

As with London and Dublin, Edinburgh is a simple first trip to Europe for English speakers. Direct flights may or may not be feasible from the U.S., but it\u2019s easy to connect through London by air, and train service from London is straightforward as well. As with London, a visit to Scotland will require that you comply with the U.K.\u2019s new ETA visa system. If you go, don\u2019t forget to try an Irn Bru.<\/p>\n

Stockholm, Sweden\"A<\/p>\n

In Stockholm, experience the polarities of the far North over a coffee and cardamom bun.<\/p>\n

(Maria Sw\u00e4rd via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

These days, it\u2019s common to see direct flights from New York to Stockholm, and this Scandinavian city is well worth a visit. Stately buildings and stylish boulevards intertwine a system of islands in a city that\u2019s well on its way to the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n

Sweden\u2019s northern climate offers extreme contrasts: in deep winter, the bay fills with ice and the sun comes up for only a few hours a day, while midsummer brings near limitless sunlight.<\/p>\n

With a caf\u00e9 culture of delicious cardamom buns, a striking fashion scene and access to gorgeous boreal forests in northern Sweden, this city is well worth a trip. Stockholm is one of the easiest cities to get around in English of any on this list, and a high-speed rail connection from the airport can get you into the center of town in under 20 minutes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What makes a city a great pick for your first time in Europe? Famous wonders of the world,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40910,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[26271,4,1896,2041],"class_list":{"0":"post-40909","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"tag-direct-flights","9":"tag-europe","10":"tag-getty-images","11":"tag-london"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/europe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}