Travel Destination: Top 5 Cities in Europe To Visit

1. Paris
Paris is quintessential Europe, an opulent city often imitated around the continent and the world, but impossible to replicate. It captures the imagination for having mastered the art of sophisticated living, and never disappoints. Yes, there's the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Champs-Élysées, and the biggest concentration of the world's greatest art at the Louvre, Orsay, Pompidou, and dozens of other museums, but the real Parisian experience is still sitting at a café or bistro, shopping down grand boulevards and squares, and strolling along the Seine. All the Parisien clichés are confirmed and enjoyed everywhere from Montmartre to Marais, and it's not difficult to see why this is the most inspiring of all cities.

2. London
If Europe has a capital, it is London. It's the continent's largest and richest city, but that's not what makes it an unmissable destination. It's its diversity and cultural influence, and the fact that there is always something new to see and experience. There is always Big Ben and other landmarks like the Tower of London, the living history in Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, and the major year-round exhibitions in Tate Modern, British Museum, and National Gallery, but also new icons like the Gherkin skyscraper and the tallest building in the continent, The Shard. At the top of the to-do list is also some of the best shopping in the world, but wherever you choose to go, you always find a thriving city constantly being revived, and a world leader in art and creativity.

3. Rome -Italy
Like many of the great world capitals, Rome is one of those cities where you can't see everything in one trip. Renowned tourist attractions like the Pantheon (which is gratis!) are plentiful, but remember to get an espresso at the Sant’Eustachio before you accept your free entrance. Get lost in the Eternal City, down alleys and cobblestone streets; you may uncover some of the most spectacular Caravaggios ever made in quiet churches like San Luigi dei Francesi. Don’t forget to bring a few euros with you, says executive editor Steve Orr, because the coin-operated lights only illuminate the paintings for a few moments before fading. And, if you do just one thing in Rome, you must take a bike ride through the Borghese Gardens.

4. Barcelona, Spain

Beautiful, sun drenched Spain offers a scenery, architecture, beaches, and a great nightlife.

Popular Attractions: The Beach
Under the Radar: Open air markets are a must see
Tips: Relax, and make sure the research hostels well.

5. FLORENCE

Florence, Italy
Nowhere else can you best experience one of the greatest periods of European and world history (the Renaissance) than in Florence. This artistic city is an open-air museum and you get a history lesson even if you don't step inside any of its several museums. But no one should leave without entering the Uffizi, with its masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and all the other great names in the history of art. This is a romantic city of beautiful piazzas showcasing magnificent architecture and sculpture, and all of that remarkable heritage can be admired from the top of the extraordinary Duomo.