City breaks 2025: these cities in Europe are waiting for you

I want to travel more again, get to know new places and rediscover old ones. Is that what you also set out to do? Then my list of ideas for a few great city trips in Europe is definitely something for you! Just save this post somewhere and you can always get ideas for the next spontaneous city trip throughout the year!

Pro tips:
➜ Book early to secure the cheapest tickets: Here you can find cheap flights for your city trips*
➜ Explore Europe’s cities by train: Buy your ticket at the super saver price from Deutsche Bahn* in good time
➜ The best way to book overnight stays is directly via booking.com*. With just a few bookings, you’ll slide into a higher Genius level and get better offers

#1 Rome

What can I say? Before I tell you about the little insider tips in Rome, you should also have seen the classics in Rome. This city is simply so bombastic and interesting that the usual sights such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain or St. Peter’s Basilica alone are enough to keep you busy.

#2 Seville

Spaniards are generally Mediterranean, warm and open, but Andalusians really go the extra mile. “Hola reina”, “como estás reina”, “aqui tiene reina” – I really like this Andalusian habit of always being affectionately addressed as “reina”, meaning “queen”. If you’re looking for joie de vivre and positive energy, Seville is definitely the place for you!

Tip: Watch the flamenco dancers at the Plaza de España and let yourself be carried away by the passionate atmosphere of a city that is bursting with warmth.

If you are looking for accommodation in Seville, I recommend the Boutique Hotel La Parada de Marques*. Relatively new, really great design, nice people – you’ll love it.

#3 Paris

Oh Paris! This city is simply a classic. Even if it is super expensive and most people grumble about the gruff and over-proud French. Which I don’t understand at all, because I don’t perceive Parisians rarely as rude (well, living in grumpy Berlin, I might have different standards) and if I were French – hey, I would also be pretty proud of this awesome city!

#4 Zagreb

In Zagreb, I probably experienced the most memorable museum visit of my life: the Museum of Broken Relationships features artifacts from broken relationships. Sounds crazy, and a bit like those tourist museums that are supposed to seem fun, but in the end you’re just annoyed about the money you’ve spent. But it’s very different there, and not only once have the exhibits brought tears to my eyes, whether out of joy or sadness. Definitely worth a recommendation. And Zagreb as a city anyway.

#5 Graz

Okay, Austrians will roll their eyes now, but to me, Graz is one of Vienna’s little sisters, along with Salzburg. Less crowded, less overwhelming, but still a mix of tradition, culture and pretty good food. And thanks to its picturesque location on the River Mur and its green surroundings, Graz is perfect for a relaxing city break! By the way: The trip gets really perfect with a stay at the Grand Hôtel Wiesler*, which is located in the city directly on the Mur and is just terribly pretty!

Tip: Visit the current exhibition at the Kunsthaus Graz (admire the impressive futuristic building on the side!) and then enjoy the panorama with a glass of wine on the Schlossberg.

#6 Vilnius

Vilnius was my last stop in a year, so to speak(you can find my article about Vilnius here). By the time I got to Vilnius, winter was already upon us and that was quite a challenge for me as I’m more a summer person. Nevertheless, the mix of history, culture and a young, open atmosphere was very exciting. And at Hotel Pacai*, I had one of the nicest hotel stays in a long time. It was relatively quiet in winter, but from previous visits (admittedly half an eternity ago) I can still remember how lively it gets here in summer.

Tip: Vilnius is the only city in Europe where you can float over the city center in a hot air balloon.

#7 Venice

Venice is always a good idea, and even if Venice is hijacked by tourists in summer – it is still an incredibly fascinating city. The location in the lagoon, the old palazzi, so much art: I’ve actually been to Venice only once, but this was certainly not the last time!

My advice: Go up to the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi for sunset & browse the shelves at the Libreria Acqua Alta.

#8 Prague

#9 London

I don’t know if it’s the upcoming coronation of King Charles III or the hype around Harry and Meghan at all, but London has been dominating my Instagram feed lately as far as major cities in Europe go! Well, London always works anyway – so why not consider it for this year?

Tip: Pick up the London Harry Potter vibe at platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station & then sip champagne at the bar right next door at St.Pancras station.

#10 Gdansk

#11 Palma de Mallorca

Actually, my second home, Palma, is already crowded enough in summer. Every year there are new discussions about limiting the number of cruise ships docking and thus the crowds that flood the streets of the old town during the day.

#12 Hamburg

Hamburg ist von Berlin aus nur eine ICE-Fahrt entfernt. Mit der Bahn fahre ich ja ohnehin gerne, und da lasse ich mich auch von dauernden Verspätungen oder einer unterirdischen Servicekultur nicht abhalten! (Übrigens gibt es mit dem Flixtrain aber in Berlin noch eine gute Alternative zur Deutschen Bahn; auch nicht immer perfekt, aber mal was anderes.)

Mein Tipp für Hamburg: Hafenrundfahrt machen & die Gastroszene erkunden – lese dazu am besten meinen Hamburg Food Guide

#13 Madrid

I’ve never been a big fan of Madrid. But after hearing my blogger bestie Sandra rave about so many tips in Madrid all last year, I should give the city another chance and go in search of the best tortillas in Madrid myself.

#14 Dresden

My insider tip for Dresden: The organic café in the Japanese Palace, with its own small garden in the courtyard!

Dresden has always been a beautiful destination. Besides the usual sights like the Zwinger, the Semper Opera and the Frauenkirche, I recommend a trip to the Neustadt where Dresden gets a bit wilder and alternative.

#15 Timisoara

Admittedly, Timisoara and I took off on bad terms. I’ve probably been there too many times, and at a time when Timisoara and, for that matter, the rest of Romania were anything but hip and trendy. Or maybe it was due to the rather revealing nightclub advertisement in the elevator of our crew hotel, which was meant to attract guests to the hotel bar in the basement. And I bet many (mostly male) guests on a business trip were very happy about the hint. Already a very unusual flair for one of the better hotels in town. Be that as it may, Timisoara has been really spruced up in recent years, and perhaps the last windy fortune-hunters will soon disappear.

#16 Lisbon

#17 Faro

#18 Manchester

When I think of Manchester and English, I always think of the hot potato that every Mancunian has in their mouth when they speak. The broad accent is just one of a kind! And I actually feel a bit at home in Manchester, probably also because there are quite a few parallels between Manchester as an old industrial city and my original home region, the Ruhr. And hey, we often talk funny there too, don’t we?

Expert tip for Manchester: Tib Street in the hip Northern Quarter with street art, specialty coffee cafés and craft beer pubs until you drop

#19 Basel

Okay, Basel is in Switzerland, so that makes it extra expensive, and anyway, in Swiss cities you always have to ask yourself if it’s worth having half a heart attack every time you run up a bill at the café. But Basel in summer is just cool because of its Rhine swimming: Put your clothes in the so-called “Wickelfisch” (a waterproof plastic bag), swimwear on, jump into the Rhine and let yourself drift on the Wickelfisch with the quite swift current. Always an amazing experience!

#20 Poznan

Actually, I’ve had quite an overdose of stays in Poland in the last few years, because I’m there all the time for work reasons. But that also means that a considerable number of tips have piled up that I still absolutely have to share with you here on the blog – from the best St. Martin’s croissants to a real jungle, I still have quite a few in store for Poznan. And if you’re looking for a nice and easily accessible destination for a short trip that won’t blow a huge hole in your travel budget, Poznan is just perfect!

#21 Torino

#22 Reus

#23 Berlin

Opinions differ about my current hometown, which I constantly quarrel with, but which is also simply unique in many ways. Berlin is loud, chaotic and dirty – but you shouldn’t let such trivialities stop you!