As the New Year hurtles towards us at a terrifying rate, it is time for the exciting question all wanderlusters dream about: Where to next?! With such a big, beautiful world out there, this question is possibly the most difficult faced by those of us who want to see it all. Fear not, however, as we are here to help!
Based on our experiences from our trips to Europe, here are our top picks for you in 2024. These are Europe ‘s Top Destinations for 2024!
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Top Destinations in Europe for 2021
Amsterdam – Netherlands
An easy choice for us. This cultural capital is high up on most adventurers list of places to visit, whether it’s for the first or fiftieth time. The cobbled streets, picturesque canals, incredible food and eccentric locals make visiting Amsterdam an almost magical experience.
Check out our cheap guide to Amsterdam and experience the best of the city on a budget.
Berlin – Germany
Another easy choice, Berlin is another cultural capital that is on the bucket list of all European travellers. As the capital of Germany, Berlin is easily accessible and will not find you short of things to do. Whether it is for a long weekend break or just a two-day stopover, Berlin is definitely somewhere you need to visit.
If you are in need of inspiration, this weekend guide to Berlin has everything you need for an unforgettable weekend away. Bier Halles, street art tours, panoramic city views and a guide to some of the worlds darkest history, this guide has it all.
If you are visiting during the winter, there are also loads of cities with amazing Christmas markets across Germany that you can travel out to. No trip to Germany in winter is complete without a visit to the famous outdoor markets!
Prague – Czech Republic
Famous for food, beer, architecture and most of all, its fascinating history, Prague is a vibrant hub of culture. The best part of all of this? The price tag! Not only is Prague one of the most beautiful cities we visited this year, it is also one of the cheapest!
A weekend break to Prague will keep your bank balance looking healthy, however, the same cannot be said about your liver.. Beer Spa anyone?!
Salzburg – Austria
Nestled amongst the salt mountains surrounding this beautiful city, Salzburg is a breath of fresh air for European explorers. During your visit to the city of Salzburg, make sure you ride a cable car up the Untersberg mountain for a spectacular, panoramic view of the region. Also, explore the local beer factory to discover how the world famous Stiegl beer is mad, and take a boat ride down the crystal clear waters of the Salzach river. Salzburg has it all!
Budapest – Hungary
This fascinating city of Budapest is another hotspot for backpackers exploring Europe, and it is easy to see why! Split by the Danube River, the ancient cities of Buda and Pest united in 1873 to form what is now the capital city of Hungary. Budapest is ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it is not hard to see why!
Sample the local Kurtoskalacs (a sweet, spiral-shaped pastry), relax in the famous thermal baths and drink in the atmosphere of this electric city as the sun sets over the castle.
Bled – Slovenia
Another world famous spot (and a definite favourite of ours), is the incredible Lake Bled. If you enjoy unbelievable sunrises, stunning hikes, adrenaline filled activities and relaxing days by the water, then Bled has everything you need! Get back in touch with nature and give camping a shot at the Lake Bled campsite.
Amalfi – Italy
The cliffside retreat of Amalfi is a place that has to be seen to be believed. The buildings of this small town perch impossibly on the side of the rocky Italian coastline. Colourful and vibrant, the seaside town of Amalfi is always buzzing with atmosphere.
Grab a bite to eat and enjoy the beautiful architecture, culture and people that Amalfi hosts. Chill out as the sun sets and finish the day off with some of Amalfi’s famous Lemoncello!
Santorini – Greece
The volcanic outcrop in the middle of the Aegean sea makes up the most famous of the Cyclades islands, the beautiful Santorini. Despite its tiny size, Santorini is one of the most fascinating places we have ever visited. This island has everything you will ever need; breathtaking natural beauty, spectacular architecture and fascinating history, all mixed together with an added dash of beautiful sunsets.
Despite its fame as a hotspot for luxury travel, Santorini is perfectly manageable on a budget. The most beautiful parts of the island are completely free!
Zurich – Switzerland
Famous for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, Zurich seems simply a pipe dream to many budget backpackers. However, a trip to this beautiful city does not need to cost you the world! With a huge number of budget and even FREE activities across the city centre, as well as budget accommodation, it is possible to experience the buzzing atmosphere of Zurich on as little as €40 per day!
Paris – France
City of love and capital of France, Paris is famous for its romance and beauty across the world. It is often thought that the romance and magic of the beautiful sights in this city are over-emphasised and exaggerated. Let me tell you something, they are absolutely not!
When I first laid eyes on the Eiffel Tower, my jaw almost broke my toes. Driving into Paris, the first thing you will see is the silhouette of the obelisk that is the tower, shadowing the city below. The same can be said for all of Paris’ many other attractions, each have to be seen in person to be believed.
Paris is a truly beautiful city with an incredible passionate and welcoming local population. If you visit just one place on this list, I would say this has to be it!
Paris, je t’aime.
Beaches on the South of France
The south of France is an incredible place to visit, especially in the summer months. We would suggest visiting the best beaches in the south of France whilst you are here as well as checking out the wineries.
So get booking your next trip to a cultural paradise. There is no time to lose!
Check out all of our guides to our favourite European destinations for budget hacks and guides to some of the most beautiful cities in the world. Also make sure you subscribe to our monthly newsletter for our travel updates straight to your mailbox!
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Many of these have been on my bucket list for so long, such as Amsterdam and Paris. Also, Prague is so beautiful! Possibly my favorite city I’ve traveled to 🙂
Prague is an incredible city! It has everything you need haha
We were looking for some new places to go this year! So glad I stumbled upon this post it’s wonderful!
Thank you so much for reading it! We are hoping to return to many of these places haha
Paris, Berlin and Switzerland… Added to my travel list for sure.
Thanks for the awesome list.
Awesome! Here’s to an adventure packed 2019!
All officially placed on my bucket list. I am so sad that I haven’t been to a single place on this list. I’ve been to Europe several times, but always to the “usual” destinations. Next time… this is a beautiful list.
That is so awesome that you want to try and visit more! Hopefully you get the chance in 2019!
Europe has always been a favorite travel destination of mine. Of the various countries I visited Germany and Austria were my favorites!
I too went to Salzburg and loved it! I really enjoy how historical the place feels. It was also my experience that the locals were very friendly.
I would love to make a trip to Prague someday. What was your best visit while there?
Austria is a definite highlight! Such a beautiful, natural country. Our favourite spot is such a hard choice haha maybe Greece for the beaches and sunsets?
Budapest is one of my absolute favorite cities in Europe!!
We absolutely love Budapest too! We would love to go back there and spend a bit longer 🙂
Wow! These places are in my bucket list! Santorini is one of the places I really want to visit in the near future.
Definitely! Santorini is an incredible place!
This is an awesome bucket list of places to visit! My wife and I are hitting London this spring and hopefully Paris the following year.
Thank you 🙂 Enjoy, we lived in London for a year and loved it there! There is also so much to do in Paris! Have a great time 🙂
I still have so much of Europe to explore. I cant wait to visit Prague and now I know about beer spa I am definitely keen to visit in 2019
There are so many beautiful places in Europe, we would also love to go back and explore more! Haha the beer spa is a must if you are in Prague, so worth the money 🙂
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