My Top 5 Favorite Cities in Europe

5. Oia, Greece


Seriously, how could I not include this place on my list? Oia, Santorini's most picturesque town, is unlike any other place you'll see. It lives up to all of the beautiful photos you've seen on Tumblr—and then some. I walked around here for hours simply taking in the sights, and wanted to snap a new photo with every corner I turned. I loved sitting down with my group of friends and eating the most delicious and fresh seafood with one of the best sunsets I've seen in my life serving as the backdrop. It's pretty expensive here, but it's easy to see why!

4. Barcelona, Spain


The one word I would use to describe Barcelona is FUN—which is why I've come back again and again to this energy-filled city (you're going to need energy, because you will be out until 7 AM here). Between spending days in the sun at the beach, checking out all of Gaudí's fantastic architecture, and sampling local food at gourmet markets, I've had quite the handful of happy memories here. It's a bigger city than I imagined before I visited, so get ready to put your walking shoes on! My one word of warning for this city is to watch out for pickpockets. I had my phone zippered AND clipped into my purse, and someone still got to it without noticing!

3. Lisbon, Portugal


Lisbon is the underdog here–I hadn't heard too much about it before I went, but I completely fell in love with it. I'd compare it to a European San Francisco, hilly terrain and Golden Gate-esque bridge and all. The people here were so friendly and welcoming—someone at the hostel that my friend and I were staying at spent 5 hours of his life to walk us around the city, showing us his favorite spots and the best viewpoints. I also had a great time seeing Kygo in the big arena just on the outskirts of Lisbon and trying out a few of the cool and artsy coffee places dotted along the main streets. This city was absolutely gorgeous and made me want to return as soon as possible.

2. Sevilla, Spain


Oh, Sevilla—my heart starts to hurt if I think too much about how much I love and miss this city. It's so full of history and soul and no place I've ever been comes close to it. Maybe I'm biased because I've spent about 8 months of my life there, but I am head over heels in love with this city. Eating tapas by the Gudalquivir River, sweating your butt off during the hot days of June, staying out until sunrise as the Spanish do, and living a completely laid back life are just a few things I miss about Sevilla. I seriously could move there someday.

1. Budapest


Now I understand why George Ezra wrote that song—Budapest is seriously surreal. I've been there four times in the past six months, and plan to come again as soon as I'm in Europe. It's by far my favorite city that I've ever visited—the thing is, I can't exactly put my finger on why. I think many facets of the city overall contribute to a wonderful atmosphere. The gorgeous Chain Bridge over the Danube, the extravagantly grand buildings, and the completely unique nightlife are all things that you won't find anywhere else. After this half year, Budapest holds a big piece of my heart.


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