These are the top 5 most beautiful cities in Europe according to travel experts

Disney-esque castles atop photogenic hilltops, cobblestone alleys that twist and turn and twist, leading to hidden squares or secret gardens, and all the ornate facades and intricately carved architectural details you can feast your eyes on:

Europe is the destination to experience it all Old world charmand let’s not beat around the bush here, it’s where people go to be objectively amazed beauty, without the usual clusters of uninspiring skyscrapers and the usual urban pollution you see every day.

However, Europe is a fairly large continent, and as full of postcard cities as it is, it can be difficult to narrow it down to the 5 most stunning. Luckily for us, Travel + Leisure seems to have the answer:

Rome, Italy

Based on the votes of almost 180,000 readers of the popular travel and lifestyle magazine, Rome ranks fifth più bella citta on the Old Continent, with a score of 88.91.

A literal open-air museum packed with ancient wonders, you would grow old before you could see and enjoy all that Rome has to offer. However, when we talk about scorching beauty, the city’s vast collection of opulent churches is a good starting point.

The crown jewel of Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica is undoubtedly the most visually striking, with its Michelangelo-designed dome and gold decorations; The Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, on the other hand, has 5th century mosaics and a gilded ceiling, and let’s not forget the Pantheon:

Originally a Roman temple, now a Catholic church a marvel of age-old technology that feels nothing short of ethereal, especially when the sun’s rays shine through oculus in the center of the dome: a symbolic link between earth and heaven.

Then of course there are all the narrow, cobbled alleys of Rome, ornate fountains (that anyone has ever heard of Fontana di Trevi?), and a beautiful Colosseum that stood tall and proud for almost two millennia.

On second thought, are T+L readers sure that Rome is only fifth in this ranking?

Istanbul, Turkey

With a score of 89.47, Istanbul, the fourth most beautiful city in Europe, is the cultural capital – but not the factual capital of Turkey.

A sprawling metropolis spanning two continents, the northern half of which lies firmly in Southeastern Europe, and the southern part branches off into Asia. Istanbul is where both West and Orient meetand it has the architectural wealth to support this.

From the monumental Byzantine basilicas-turned-mosques (most famously Hagia Sophia) to the breathtaking Ottoman sights (like the Blue Mosque) and every cafe-lined, stone-paved neighborhood in between, it’s a city where centuries of history and modern life blend seamlessly.

If you are in Istanbul, make sure you don’t miss the Dolmabahçe Palace, often mentioned the ‘Turkish Versailles’the Galata Tower, a medieval stronghold built by Genoese settlers in the Middle Ages, and the lively sister districts of Balat and Fener, with their colorful facades and antique shops.

Grenada

A small town in the south of Spain, Granada is the third best offering in Europewith a reader score of 89.48.

Nestled in the hills of sun-drenched Andalusia, it used to be the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula before the Spanish took over, and it still largely resembles a North African city.

You didn’t read that wrong. Southern Spain was under Muslim control for much of the Middle Ages, and Granada was the last ‘caliphate’ to be reconquered by the Christians. However, by the time it fell back into Spanish hands, the traces of its Moorish past had become indelible.

It is dominated by the Alhambra, the largest fort ever built by Arabsand a complex of lush gardens and heavily fortified palaces, protected by impenetrable outer walls.

At the foot is the Albaicínthe Muslim Quarter, with its winding walkways, whitewashed houses and preserved Moorish houses and baths.

Granadas architectural grandeur may have been largely a contribution of the North African rulers, but the post-Christian era brought its own gems Basilica of San Juan de Dios (golden interiors and frescoes), to Granada Cathedral (best known for its Renaissance facade).

Seville

Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is officially the second best-rated city in Europe by T+L readers for charm and vibrancy, with a rating of 89.49.

While we can certainly see Rome moving up a few places, we can agree on Seville’s placement.

It is one of the most important cultural capitals of Spain a melting pot of civilizations stretching back to the time of the ancient Romans, past the Moors (the same guys who took over Granada), and finally the Spanish Empire.

Santa Cruz is the historic heart of Seville, with narrow streets, colorful verandas and two medieval showpieces to top it all off: the Cathedral of Seville, originally built as a Moorish mosqueand the Alcazaranother royal palace from the Islamic era.

In Triana, just across the scenic Guadalquivir River, you’ll find flamenco dancers, ceramic shops and an abundance of centuries-old tapas bars serving Seville’s world-famous Spanish specialties. patatas bravas And salmorejo soup.

Oh, don’t worry, we got there in the end: when it comes to beauty, Seville’s magnum opus is without a doubt the crescent-shaped, canal-surrounded Plaza de España. It is generally accepted as the most beautiful public square in the countryand a must-see for visitors to the Andalusian metropolis.

Florence

Recently crowned Italy’s top destination by travelers themselves, ahead of Rome, Venice and Milan, Florence is officially Europe’s masterpiece of a city, with a reader score of 90.08 – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

We mean they should just add Florence as a direct synonym of ‘beautiful’ to the Oxford Dictionary:

The birthplace of the Renaissanceand a place that spawned geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, Brunelleschi (who, by the way, designed the city’s unmissable red dome) and Galileo Galilei, Florence is the textbook example of a European superpower.

Take a walk through the timeless old town, with its ocher-colored buildings and the towering Duomowith the characteristic white-green-pink marble facade, cross Ponte Vecchiowith covered merchant shops dating back to the Middle Ages, or watch the sun set over Florence’s bell towers at Piazzale Michelangelo:

You will fall helplessly in love faster than you can say buchette del vino.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.