I live in Paris and love traveling around Europe. Here are 4 cities I'll definitely go back to — and 2 I'll skip next time.

Sep 10, 2026 10:01 PM - 4 days ago 4

An aerial position of a coastal city, pinch yachts docked successful the water.

Hvar, Croatia, is 1 of the cities I urge visiting successful Europe. Dreamer4787/Shutterstock

One of the biggest perks of living successful Europe for the past fewer years has been the easiness of hopping connected a formation to research caller destinations.

During my clip here, I've visited 26 cities successful countries for illustration France, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

Each destination brought thing unsocial to the table, but unfortunately, not each acquisition lived up to my expectations.

Here are the 4 cities I'd return to successful a heartbeat — and 2 I'd astir apt skip adjacent time.

I loved visiting Faro, Portugal.

Old buildings successful a courtyard pinch thenar trees.

Faro is simply a beautiful metropolis successful Portugal. Digitalsignal/Getty Images

Located successful the Algarve region of Portugal, Faro is simply a picnic basking spot pinch gorgeous beaches, unsocial architecture, and a relaxed atmosphere.

One of the highlights of my travel was stepping on the cliffs for an hr pinch a friend to find a secluded beach. The views were magical, and the acquisition felt for illustration thing retired of a dream.

Faro's lukewarm upwind and welcoming charm make it a spot I'd gladly return to.

Prague felt for illustration a fairytale.

Tourists stitchery successful a courtyard successful Prague, pinch colorful buildings and a ample church.

I loved stepping done Old Town Square. Pauline Lewis/Getty Images

In my opinion, Prague's fairytale-like architecture, vibrant nightlife, and rich | history make it a apical contender for 1 of Europe's astir beautiful cities.

Walking done Old Town Square feels for illustration stepping backmost successful time, and each area of the metropolis holds thing fascinating.

The nutrient segment is besides worthy mentioning — accepted Czech dishes for illustration goulash and trdelník (chimney cake) are must-try items.

Despite spending a fewer days there, I felt for illustration I hardly scratched the aboveground of what the metropolis has to offer.

Hvar, Croatia, is dissimilar anyplace other I've been.

A formation pinch turquoise waters, a thenar tree, and purple flowers successful the foreground, and a religion and buildings successful the background.

Croatia's beaches are gorgeous. xbrchx/Getty Images

Croatia is simply a dream for formation lovers, and the land of Hvar was decidedly a item of my trip.

Hvar combines charming cobblestone streets, awesome restaurants, and dreamy beaches pinch crystal-clear water.

The surrounding smaller islands are conscionable arsenic stunning, offering secluded spots to relax and unwind.

On this trip, I stepped retired of my comfortableness area by visiting a nude beach, and moreover made caller friends who shared my emotion for exploring.

Hvar's blend of escapade and relaxation has earned it a imperishable spot connected my database of favorite European recreation destinations.

I'd happily revisit Reykjavik, Iceland.

A metropolis pinch mountains and a assemblage of h2o successful the background.

Reykjavik is the superior of Iceland. Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

Iceland is known arsenic being a pricy tourer destination, but my sojourn was worthy each penny. The capital, Reykjavik, is packed pinch charm and incredibly walkable.

The section cuisine, including caller seafood and lamb, was immoderate of the champion I've had successful Europe. What stood retired the most, though, were the unplanned magical moments.

One night, aft leaving a karaoke bar, I looked up to spot the northern lights dancing crossed the sky. It was an awe-inspiring acquisition that felt almost surreal. That benignant of spontaneous magic makes Iceland a spot I'd sojourn again and again.

However, I'm not rushing to return to Marseille, France.

Hundreds of boats docked successful a harbor, pinch a metropolis and a religion connected a elevation down them.

I wasn't blown distant by my sojourn to Marseille, France. Steve Lorillere/Getty Images

Although France is brimming pinch beauty and culture, my sojourn to Marseille felt a spot lackluster. The city's architecture is undeniably stunning, but Marseille seemed to deficiency thing that made it genuinely special.

Exploring the metropolis tin besides beryllium a workout — it's very hilly, and unless you're prepared for a batch of uphill walking, it tin beryllium a spot exhausting.

Next time, I'd prioritize neighboring French spots for illustration Aix-en-Provence aliases Nice instead.

Unfortunately, Stockholm didn't unrecorded up to my expectations.

Birds and a fountain successful the foreground of a courtyard, pinch  visitors and colorful buildings successful the background.

Stockholm felt a spot underwhelming. Angel Villalba/Getty Images

I had heard truthful overmuch astir Stockholm and couldn't hold to visit. However, I near emotion a spot underwhelmed.

The metropolis is undeniably beautiful, pinch its waterways and historical buildings, but it lacked the spark I hoped for. After visiting a fewer different Nordic cities, Stockholm conscionable felt a spot monotonous.

This communicative was primitively published connected March 16, 2025, and astir precocious updated connected September 10, 2026.

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Djena Camara is a contributing writer for Business Insider.

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