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Lisbon, Portugal
Start your journey in the Portuguese capital. Explore the winding streets of Alfama, ride Tram 28, and feast on pastéis de nata in Belém. Don't miss the views from Miradouro da Graça at sunset.
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Seville, Spain
Seville is Andalusia's crown jewel, home to the stunning Alcázar palace and a Gothic cathedral. Wander the Santa Cruz neighbourhood and try tapas with local fino sherry. The city buzzes with flamenco culture every night.
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Granada, Spain
Granada is defined by the breathtaking Alhambra palace perched above the city. The Albaicín neighbourhood offers Moorish architecture and rooftop views of the Sierra Nevada. Tapas here are traditionally free with every drink.
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Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona blends Gaudí's surreal architecture with a vibrant beach and food scene. Visit La Sagrada Família, stroll La Rambla, and explore the Gothic Quarter's medieval lanes. The Boqueria market is perfect for fresh local produce and snacks.
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Marseille, France
France's oldest city is raw, vibrant, and deeply underrated. Try the iconic bouillabaisse fish stew in the Vieux-Port area and hike the Calanques for stunning coastal scenery. The neighbourhood of Le Panier is full of street art and charm.
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Nice, France
Nice sits on the French Riviera with a gorgeous waterfront Promenade des Anglais and a pastel-painted old town. The Cours Saleya market is a daily explosion of flowers and fresh food. Day trips to Monaco and Èze are easy and worthwhile.
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Florence, Italy
Florence is the Renaissance heart of Italy, home to the Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo's David. Cross the Ponte Vecchio at dusk and climb the Duomo for panoramic city views. The Oltrarno neighbourhood has excellent trattorias and artisan workshops.
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Rome, Italy
The Eternal City demands time — the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Pantheon alone fill days. Eat cacio e pepe in Trastevere and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain. Get lost in the cobblestone streets around Campo de' Fiori in the evenings.
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Naples, Italy
Naples is chaotic, authentic, and home to the world's best pizza — try it at Da Michele or Sorbillo in the historic centre. The UNESCO-listed centro storico is a maze of churches, markets, and street life. Use Naples as a base for Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
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Bari, Italy
Bari's whitewashed old town and seaside castle make it a charming Puglia gateway. Watch local nonnas hand-roll orecchiette pasta in the streets of Bari Vecchia. It's a key ferry hub for crossing to Albania and Montenegro.
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Tirana, Albania
Albania's colourful capital is one of Europe's most surprising and affordable cities. Skanderbeg Square is the lively heart of the city, flanked by Ottoman and Soviet-era landmarks. The Blloku neighbourhood is packed with excellent cafes, bars, and restaurants.
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Gjirokaster, Albania
Gjirokastër is a UNESCO-listed Ottoman stone city built dramatically on a hillside. Its imposing castle overlooks the valley and houses a fascinating weapons museum. The bazaar and traditional kulla houses give a rare glimpse into Albanian highland culture.
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Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor's medieval walled old town sits at the edge of a dramatic Adriatic bay. Hike the 1,350 steps up to the fortress for jaw-dropping views over the Bay of Kotor. The town is tiny but packed with Venetian history, seafood restaurants, and charming squares.
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik's UNESCO-listed old town with its iconic limestone walls is one of the Adriatic's most spectacular sights. Walk the full city walls circuit for views over the terracotta rooftops and crystal-clear sea. Take a cable car up Mount Srđ for a panoramic sunset view.
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Split, Croatia
Split is built around Diocletian's Palace, a Roman emperor's retirement home now filled with restaurants and bars. The Riva waterfront promenade is perfect for an evening stroll and people-watching. Use Split as a base for islands like Hvar and Brač.
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Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar's iconic Stari Most bridge, rebuilt after the 1990s war, is one of the Balkans' most moving landmarks. The old bazaar Kujundžiluk is lined with craft shops, Turkish tea houses, and cevapi grills. The city embodies the complex and beautiful layering of Balkan culture.
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Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo is one of Europe's most historically rich and emotionally resonant cities. The Baščaršija bazaar feels like stepping into the Ottoman Empire, with copper craftsmen and burek bakeries at every turn. The city's war history is explored through powerful museums and the Tunnel of Hope.
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Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is one of Europe's most underrated and energetic cities, famous for its nightlife on floating river clubs called splavovi. Kalemegdan Fortress offers sweeping views over the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The bohemian Skadarlija street is lined with traditional kafanas serving roast meats and rakija.
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Novi Sad, Serbia
Novi Sad is a charming university city on the Danube, home to the iconic Petrovaradin Fortress. The pedestrian zone Zmaj Jovina street and the vibrant café culture make it very walkable and relaxed. It hosts the world-famous EXIT music festival every summer.
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Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia is a compact, affordable capital with a surprising mix of Roman ruins, Ottoman mosques, and Soviet architecture. The golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a must, as is the Central Market Hall for local food. The neighbourhood of Lozenets has excellent restaurants and a relaxed vibe.
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Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv's old town is one of the most beautiful in the Balkans, with colourful National Revival-era houses perched on three hills. The Kapana creative district buzzes with galleries, craft beer bars, and street art. It's one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities.
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Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul is unmissable — a city straddling two continents with the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar at its heart. Wander the Beyoğlu district, cross the Galata Bridge at dusk, and take a Bosphorus ferry for unforgettable city views. The food scene is world-class, from simit and balık ekmek to mezes and baklava.
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Thessaloniki, Greece
Greece's second city is considered by many Greeks to have the country's best food scene. The waterfront White Tower and the Byzantine walls are key landmarks, while the Modiano Market is a sensory feast. Thessaloniki has a youthful, vibrant energy fuelled by its large student population.
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Athens, Greece
Athens anchors the trip with ancient history at every corner — the Acropolis and Parthenon are simply unmissable. The Monastiraki flea market and Plaka neighbourhood are great for wandering and eating souvlaki and spanakopita. Climb Lycabettus Hill at sunset for a sweeping panorama of the entire city.
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Santorini, Greece
Santorini's iconic white-and-blue villages clinging to volcanic cliffs are as dramatic in person as in photos. Oia is the place for the legendary sunset, while Fira offers great restaurants and nightlife. The black sand beaches of Perissa and Kamari offer a unique volcanic swimming experience.
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Heraklion, Greece
Crete's capital is the gateway to the ancient Minoan Palace of Knossos, Europe's oldest city. The covered market street 1866 is excellent for local cheese, olive oil, and honey. Head west to explore the dramatic Samariá Gorge hike and the stunning beaches of the Chania region.
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Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje is one of the Balkans' most eccentric capitals, filled with oversized neoclassical statues and fountains built during the 'Skopje 2014' project. Cross the Stone Bridge to reach the Ottoman Old Bazaar, one of the largest and most authentic in the Balkans. The city is a budget traveller's dream with cheap food and accommodation.
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Ohrid, North Macedonia
Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage gem sitting on one of Europe's deepest and clearest lakes. The old town is dotted with medieval churches, Byzantine frescoes, and a hilltop fortress with stunning views. The lake's turquoise water is perfect for swimming and boat trips in summer.
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Kotor, Montenegro
Return through Montenegro heading north toward Bosnia — the coastal drive is among Europe's most scenic. Stop in Budva for its lively beach scene and medieval old town. The mountain town of Žabljak and Durmitor National Park are spectacular if you have extra time.
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Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia's tiny capital punches above its weight with a fairy-tale castle, a car-free old town, and a wonderful riverside café culture. The Central Market along the Ljubljanica River is excellent for local food. Use Ljubljana as a base for Lake Bled, one of Europe's most photogenic spots.
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Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled with its island church and clifftop castle is one of Europe's most iconic alpine scenes. Row a traditional pletna boat to the island and ring the wishing bell in the church. Hike up to Ojstrica viewpoint for the postcard-perfect panoramic shot of the lake.
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Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia's capital is often skipped but rewards those who stop — the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) has a medieval cathedral and charming cobblestone streets. The Dolac open-air market is a lively morning hub for fresh produce and local cheese. The Museum of Broken Relationships is one of the world's most unique and moving museums.
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Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of Europe's grandest capitals, with imperial palaces, world-class museums, and an unrivalled coffee house culture. Visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum, stroll the Ringstrasse, and attend an evening concert or opera. A slice of Sachertorte at Café Central is a Viennese rite of passage.
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Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, split by the Danube with hilly Buda and flat Pest on either side. Soak in the famous thermal baths at Széchenyi or Gellért, and cross the iconic Chain Bridge at night. The ruin bar scene in the Jewish Quarter is legendary and not to be missed.
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Kraków, Poland
Kraków's medieval old town and stunning Wawel Castle make it one of Poland's most beautiful cities. The Jewish Kazimierz neighbourhood has excellent restaurants, bars, and deeply moving Holocaust memorial sites. A visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, 70km away, is a sobering and essential historical experience.
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Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw is a city of remarkable resilience — almost entirely destroyed in WWII, its old town was meticulously rebuilt and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Warsaw Uprising Museum is one of the most powerful and well-designed history museums in Europe. The hip Praga district on the east bank has a thriving arts and nightlife scene.
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Berlin, Germany
Berlin is endlessly fascinating — from the Brandenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial to the remnants of the Berlin Wall and the DDR Museum. The neighbourhoods of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, and Kreuzberg each have a totally distinct character. Berlin's club and arts scene is world-famous, and its street food and market culture is excellent.
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam's concentric canal rings, gabled merchants' houses, and world-class museums make it one of Europe's most distinctive cities. The Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House are essential visits. Rent a bike and explore the Jordaan neighbourhood for a truly local experience.
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Paris, France
No six-month European odyssey is complete without time in Paris. Beyond the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, explore the Marais district, walk along the Canal Saint-Martin, and eat croissants at a local boulangerie every morning. The city rewards slow exploration — sit at a café terrace and watch the world go by.