This is Europe's best city, according to traveller survey
The Tuscan capital came in 11th overall, the highest-ranking European city on this year's list. The top spot globally went to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, followed by Oaxaca and Tokyo.
While the overall top 10 was dominated by cities in Latin America and Asia, several European cities rounded out the list, all favoured by readers looking for culture, food and historic charm.
Italy stands out with three cities on the list
The rankings are based on nearly 180,000 reader responses. Cities were rated across six categories: sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value.
Italy was the only European country with three cities in the top 25: Florence (11), Rome (18) and Siena (23). All earned praise for their timeless beauty, great food and culture, from centuries-old cathedrals and trattorias to cobblestoned streets full of local life.
The results track with tourism data: Italy was the fourth most-visited country in the world in 2024, drawing more than 71 million international visitors.
Florence continues to enchant travellers with its intimate scale, world-renowned art and sunlit piazzas. From the Uffizi Gallery's Botticellis to Florence Cathedral's terracotta dome, the Tuscan capital offers a walking-distance feast of masterpieces. Its rustic restaurants - many family-run for generations - add to the timeless atmosphere.
Rome, meanwhile, offers something few cities can match: layers of living history. The Eternal City's blend of ancient ruins and street-level spontaneity earned high marks from readers. This year's Jubilee, an occasion that brings together Catholics from around the world every 25 years, is also taking place in the wake of Pope Francis' passing in April.
And then there's the well-preserved Tuscan city of Siena. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, the 12th-century city rises from rolling hills, with its medieval brick buildings and Gothic towers an immediate draw. Its lively restaurants and famed Piazza del Campo, where the Palio horse race unfolds twice each summer, set the pace for a city that feels like a welcome step back to a bygone era.
Spain and Türkiye also make strong showings
Spain saw two of its Andalusian cities land just behind Florence: Seville in 12th place and Granada in 13th. Both were recognised for their historical heritage and atmospheric old towns. Istanbul, bridging Europe and Asia, followed in 14th place.
Seville is pure southern Spanish charm, complete with flamenco echoing out through winding cobblestoned streets, vibrant nightlife and grand heritage sites.
Granada, lying at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, casts a quieter image, but it's no less magical. The Alhambra – the hilltop fortress filled with fountains, gardens and intricate Islamic architecture – remains one of Europe's most awe-inspiring sites. But the city's appeal also lies in its narrow alleys and generations-old tapas bars.
Meanwhile, Istanbul's full-flavoured food, incredible history and location at the meeting point of two continents make it one of the world's most exciting cities.
France misses out
One country was noticeably absent from the list.
Despite being the world's most visited country – drawing over 100 million tourists annually – France did not have a single city in this year's top 25.
While France remains perennially popular, the absence may reflect shifting preferences among the magazine's predominantly American readership.
Smaller, slower cities with greater perceived value – and perhaps fewer issues with overtourism – appear to have gained ground over larger destinations such as Paris. The final European destination to make the cut – Portugal's Porto in 24th – reflects this change, too, even if its tourism industry is starting to surge.
The takeaway might be that in a post-pandemic era shaped by value, authenticity and ease, even travel's perennial favourites aren't guaranteed a spot at the top.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
8 hours ago
- Euronews
Trump administration unveils plan to charge visa security deposit
In the latest in a series of anti-immigration policies, the Trump administration has announced a pilot measure to require some visa applicants to put down a $15,000 (€12,901) deposit. The decision, published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, will be tested for a year starting 20 August and aims to ensure that visitors adhere to the legally prescribed length of stay. According to the US State Department, the bond will only be refunded after the visa holder leaves the US and their visa expires. The US State Department has said the pilot will so far include Zambia and Malawi. It has made it clear that the measure will apply to "nationals of countries with high overstay rates" or those that raise suspicions due to the lack of reliable monitoring systems. The decision covers both tourist and business visas. Tougher measures against African countries According to US administration figures, more than 500,000 people overstayed their visas in 2023. In the context of tightening visa requirements, Trump has announced decisions in recent months that have particularly targeted a number of African countries. The measure comes as the US, along with Canada and Mexico, prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in the summer of 2026, followed by the Olympic Games in San Francisco in 2028. The decision has sparked concern on social media about the ability of athletes, especially from Africa, to participate in these major events. Around forty countries, mostly European, still benefit from the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows their nationals to stay in the US for up to 90 days without the need for a visa. There are no African countries on the list, while Qatar is the only Middle Eastern country included in the programme.
LeMonde
20 hours ago
- LeMonde
Greece becoming better equipped to fight wildfires
On July 27, 4,200 hectares went up in smoke on the islands of Kythira and Euboea, as well as within the region of Athens. At the end of June, a wildfire ravaged more than 4,500 hectares on the island of Chios in the northern Aegean Sea, threatening fields of mastic pistachio trees − the source of mastiha, a unique resin used in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the most serious ecological disaster of the season occurred in Feneos, on the mountains near Corinthia in the Peloponnese, between July 22 and 24. More than 1,100 hectares of Cephalonia firs − a species that cannot regenerate naturally after a fire − were destroyed in a zone protected by the European network, Natura 2000. Despite this grim record, Greece has faced the threat of wildfires in summer 2025 with forces larger than ever. After nearly 1,600 new hires in one year, the country now counts 18,000 firefighters, including 2,500 seasonal workers and more than 1,500 forest rangers. 164 new trucks have also been delivered to firefighters, and the country has 85 aircraft.
Local France
a day ago
- Local France
Are you likely to face a bill for a mountain rescue in France?
A British hiker had to be rescued following a rockslide in Italy's Dolomite mountains - he was hit with a €14,000 bill for the rescue because he had ignored signs warning that the path was closed due to the danger of rockslides. READ MORE: British hiker hit with €14,000 bill after being rescued in Italy's Dolomites Similar rescues are also carried out in France each summer, as hikers find themselves stranded in the French Alps or the Pyrenees mountains, while in the winter skiers and climbers often get into trouble. So do you need to worry about being billed for a rescue? Mountain rescue operations in France In France, the standard rule is that mountain rescue operations are carried out by publicly funded services. The exception, however, comes during ski season. If you are injured on-piste or off-piste close to a ski area ( domaine skiable ), then it would be the ski resort's patrol that comes to rescue you. These patrols are not state funded, they are financed by the resorts themselves. Advertisement According to French news outlet La république des Pyrenees , local authorities are allowed to set the cost of rescue services provided by resorts' ski patrols. These fees are voted on yearly and often increase with inflation. As such, if you are injured or stranded during ski season in a ski area - and you require a helicopter rescue - then you may find yourself paying thousands of euros out of pocket. It costs on average €80 per minute for helicopter rescues, according to TF1 . But if you are hiking, mountain biking, climbing or ski touring outside of a ski area, then rescue operations would be conducted by public services. READ MORE: Why climbing Mont Blanc is becoming more and more dangerous These would be either the gendarmerie ( Pelotons de gendarmerie de haute montagne , or PGHM), the fire and rescue service ( pompiers ) or the CRS mountain rescue service ( compagnies républicaines de sécurité en montagne ). As public servants are paid by taxpayers, the idea is that rescue operations carried out by them ought to be covered by the state, even if it requires a helicopter. The basic principle is that mountain rescues work in the same way as calling an ambulance in a lowland area - the call-out itself is free and the basic medical services would be covered by the French public health system for people registered in the French system. Tourists would need to claim back costs on either their European health cover or private medical/travel insurance. Any extra costs would either be paid by your secondary insurance ( mutuelle ) or out of pocket. These costs depend on the nature of the medical intervention. If your mountain rescue requires a doctor accompanying the rescue operation, then you would be charged for their services, but can then claim a reimbursement via the French public health system, in the same way as any other medical service. Advertisement Extra charges Although the rescue itself is free, you can be fined or even jailed if you were doing something that you should not have been in the lead-up to the rescue. If you enter an area that is forbidden by local bylaws, you risk a statutory fine. For example, entering a forest deemed at high risk of wildfires can lead to a fourth-class fine , with a maximum penalty of €750. Advertisement If you are tempted to prank call the emergency number for a helicopter ride down the mountain, be aware that this is punishable by up to two years in prison and a €30,000 fine. In 2015, two hikers on Mont Blanc called emergency services for non-urgent help getting back down the mountain, and were taken to court and fined €3,000 for irresponsible behaviour. In fact, the cost of rescue operations is a bit of a sore point in some mountainous areas - since the services are paid for out of local taxes but it's predominantly tourists who end up being rescued. The mayor of Saint-Gervais, at the foot of Mont Blanc, even tried to introduce a €15,000 deposit for people climbing the mountain "anticipate their rescue and funeral costs" as the mountain becomes more dangerous due to rising temperatures. However his idea was vetoed. How much might I owe for a rescue in a ski area? If you are in a ski area, the cost of a rescue depends on the complexity of the rescue operation. According to the mountain sports and leisure website, Mon séjour en Montagne , average costs range from €300 to €500. An accident on the first few slopes of the mountain (ie the snow front, or front de neige ) may be around €200, while a rescue in a more remote piste may go up to €600. According to Hellosafe, if a helicopter is necessary for an off-piste rescue, you could find yourself paying between €1,000 to €3,000.
