The Most Visited Cities in Europe

most visited cities in europe: view of paris eiffel tower

Europe’s most visited cities attract millions of tourists each year, offering a blend of landmarks, rich history, and cultural appeal for traveling sightseers from around the world.

Iconic destinations such as Paris, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, London, and Amsterdam are among the 36 European cities featured in Euromonitor’s prestigious Top 100 City Destinations Index, showcasing the worldwide allure of these tourist hotspots.^[1]

Key statistics

Paris is the most visited city in Europe with over 75 million overnight tourists a year.
Four of the 20 most-visited cities in Europe are in Germany with Berlin (4th), Munich (9th), Hamburg (13th), and Frankfurt (19th).
Vienna’s landmark, the Hofburg, is the most visited in Europe, attracting over 20 million yearly visitors.
The longest average stay (6.7 nights) in a European region is in the Canary Islands.
Heraklion, Greece has the lowest number of visitors (748,000 yearly) for a European city that ranks in the top 100 cities (placed in Euromonitor’s Top 100 Cities Destination Index).
Hamburg in Germany attracts the highest proportion of domestic travelers among Europe’s 20 most-visited cities, with 3.5 local tourists for every foreign visitor.
Mallorca has the highest ratio of foreign to domestic among Europe’s 20 most-visited cities, with nearly 9 overseas tourists to every local visitor.

List of the most visited cities in Europe

Over 400 million tourists visit the 20 most popular cities in Europe each year, with the romantic city of Paris leading as the top destination. Other popular locations include Rome, London, Berlin, and Barcelona.^[2]

According to the latest data, here are the top 20 most visited cities in Europe.

Rank	Location	Country	Domestic visitors	Foreign visitors	Total
1	Paris	France	34,324,496	41,193,809	75,518,305
2	Rome	Italy	11,073,284	26,181,696	37,254,980
3	London	England	15,100,000	20,300,000	35,400,00
4	Berlin	Germany	17,466,613	11,916,765	29,383,378
5	Barcelona	Spain	5,562,536	22,745,424	28,307,960
6	Madrid	Spain	10,925,911	14,405,324	25,331,235
7	Amsterdam	Netherlands	3,859,956	17,507,991	21,367,947
8	Lisbon	Portugal	4,071,092	15,197,994	19,269,086
9	Munich	Germany	10,460,044	8,144,990	18,605,034
10	Prague	Czech Republic	2,691,291	14,170,373	16,861,664
11	Vienna	Austria	3,087,663	13,386,397	16,474,060
12	Milan	Italy	5,729,042	10,698,138	16,427,180
13	Hamburg	Germany	12,365,659	3,529,205	15,894,864
14	Benidorm	Spain	5,485,991	9,689,286	15,175,277
15	Venice	Italy	1,696,804	10,931,275	12,628,079
16	Stockholm	Sweden	7,901,385	4,577,845	12,479,230
17	Copenhagen	Denmark	5,405,820	6,944,955	12,350,775
18	Palma	Italy	1,065,842	9,352,657	10,418,499
19	Frankfurt	Germany	6,322,164	4,013,368	10,335,532
20	Athens	Greece	2,363,947	7,731,358	10,095,305

^{Source [2][3][4]}

Paris, France

Paris is the most visited city in Europe drawing over 75 million annual visitors, including 41 million visitors from abroad.^[2]

The ‘City of Lights’ captivates tourists with its major landmarks and attractions such as Disneyland Paris (14 million yearly visitors), Louvre Museum (8 million), Versailles Palace (8 million) and the Eiffel Tower (6 million).^[5]

Paris is also recognised as the number one ranked city globally according to Euromonitor’s renowned Tourism Performance Index (based on economic, tourism performance, tourism attractiveness, tourism infrastructure, health and safety, and sustainability).^[1] The city seamlessly blends a mixture of art, romance and culture, making it the number one choice. Paris’ world-class street food scene is a major attraction, offering everything from buttery croissants to coq au vin.

Rome, Italy

Rome attracted 37 million visitors in 2023 and is recognized as one of the most historic locations in the world, dating back to 753 B.C.^[2] This status is backed by UNESCO, with its Historic Centre listed as one of Italy’s 60 World Heritage Sites.^[6][7]

Rome, known as the Eternal City is visited for its rich history from ancient ruins to Renaissance art.

Italy is considered a beautiful country with plenty of variety–Rome’s easy connections by train allow visitors to soak up the city’s history before venturing on to other popular destinations in the country.

London, England

London is the third most-visited city in Europe, the English capital attracted over 35 million tourists in 2023.^[3][4]

The city’s major attractions continue to draw significant crowds. The London Eye welcomes 3.5 million yearly visitors, while the Tower of London attracts around 2.8 million tourists.^[8][9] Other well-known places to visit include Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum.^[10]

Berlin, Germany

According to data from Eurostat, Berlin attracted over 29 million tourists in 2023.Germany’s capital city continues to lure nearly 12 million holidaymakers from abroad.^[2]

The city’s most frequented landmark is the neo-classical, 18th-century monument–the Brandenburg Gate, so popular that it is also the host of 12 million visitors every year according to the latest statistics from 2024.^[8]

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the fifth-most visited city in Europe, boasting 28 million total overnight visitors in 2023.^[2]

There are endless experiences from authentic cooking classes and guided tours of the Sagrada Familia to watching FC Barcelona in action at Camp Nou. Whether exploring its rich history or indulging in its vibrant culinary scene, Barcelona remains a top destination for tourists.

Madrid, Spain

Spain’s capital city trails its Spanish counterpart (Barcelona) for most-visited, attracting 25 million total visitors in 2023–14 million from abroad and almost 11 million domestic visitors.^[2]

Madrid, the capital city, is renowned for its fashionable lifestyle and designer stores such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci located along the ‘Golden Mile’.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam attracts more than 21 million yearly visitors, making it one of Europe’s most popular travel destinations.^[2]

The Dutch capital is loved by tourists from around the world for its picturesque canals, famous museums such as the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, the historic Anne Frank House and the vibrant nightlife.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon receives over 19 million visitors every year, standing out as Portugal’s leading city for travelers.^[2]

The city’s famous yellow trams, pastel-colored streets, and landmarks such as the Belem Tower cement it as a go-to Portuguese gem.

Munich, Germany

Munich is the ninth most visited city in Europe, attracting over 18 million yearly visitors.^[2]

Famous for Oktoberfest, museums, and centuries-old buildings, Munich is a sought-after location for domestic and foreign travelers alike.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a well-known tourist destination, attracting almost 17 million tourists, as many adventurers explore Europe.^[2]

The city’s popularity as one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Europe stems from its attractions such as John Lennon Wall, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Prague Castle.

Finding the European city for you

Your favorite city break will largely depend on who you’re spending it with, although most of the popular European destinations are ideal for solo travelers, couples or families.

Cities in Europe for solo travelers

The continent is favored due to the easy access to transport and accommodation. The Eurail Pass makes it easy to frequent the Netherlands, France, Germany and other countries. Getting around efficiently is a huge plus for solo adventurers.^[11][12]

Berlin, Hamburg and Nice are all great cities to enjoy as a solo traveler. Cities in France and Germany are great places for those traveling alone due to these cities having smaller areas to cover. ^[13]

Cities in Europe for couples

Europe stands out as the ultimate destination for couples, offering romantic and idyllic settings across different countries.

According to British Airways, Lisbon, Venice, Prague, and Barcelona all make for the ideal romantic retreat.^[14]

Surprisingly, Paris didn’t make it into their recommendations. But the ‘City of Love’ is often talked about for its charm. Although it’s likely that many couples are among the 75 million that visit Paris each year.^[2]

At the risk of bursting bubbles, an effect known as Paris Syndrome – a psychological condition coined after Paris due to tourists romanticizing the city, only to be left underwhelmed.

Cities in Europe for families

Many of the popular European city breaks offer a wealth of options for families, with destinations such as London and Reykjavik standing out for those traveling with children.^[15]

In London, a quarter of domestic travelers include families with children, emphasizing its family-friendly appeal.^[16]

Most visited landmarks in Europe

Steeped in history, Europe is renowned for its famous landscapes such as Brandenburg Gate in Germany and Britain’s London Eye.

The Hofburg in Austria is the most visited landmark in Europe, attracting an impressive 20 million visitors annually. This remarkable site surpasses many cities in total visitor numbers. Other notable landmarks include the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin with 12 million annual visitors according to a recent study (equal to Berlin’s annual visitor count).^[8][2]Do note that recording paid attractions is more accurate than for landmarks (like the Brandenburg Gate) that visitors can simply walk past or through.

Landmarks such as Cathédrale Notre-Dame, France, Palace of Versailles, France, and St. Peter’s Basilica, Italy attracted 14 million, 10 million, and 10 million annual visitors respectively.^[8]

Ranking	Landmarks	Number of yearly visitors
1	The Hofburg, Austria	20M
2	Cathédrale Notre-Dame, France	14M
3	Brandenburg Gate, Germany	12M
4	Palace of Versailles, France	10M
5	St. Peter’s Basilica, Italy	10M
6	The Louvre, France	9.6M
7	Eiffel Tower, France	7M
8	Pantheon, Italy	7M
9	Colosseum, Italy	7.6M
10	Sistine Chapel, Italy	6M
11	Milan Cathedral, Italy	5M
12	The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy	5M
13	Sagrada Familia, Spain	4.5M
14	Reichstag, Germany	3M
15	London Eye, UK	3.5M

^{Source [8]}

Which European country has the most popular cities?

Many of the most visited cities in Europe are located in four main countries, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain.^[2]

Germany

Germany boasts four cities in the top 20 most visited cities in Europe.^[1] This underlines the tourist allure of Germany with Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt all taking their place as desirable European cities. Combined, these four cities accumulate over 70 million yearly visitors, demonstrating Germany’s prominence as a top European travel destination.^[2]

Spain

Spain has four popular tourist cities, Barcelona, Madrid, Benidorm, and Mallorca, which together garner almost 70 million visitors annually.^[2]

Spain is famed for its popular holiday spots with city breaks that boast shopping complexes, beaches, and much more.

Italy

Italy features three cities in the most visited cities in Europe, showcasing its timeless charm and rich cultural heritage. Rome, Milan, and Venice are all frequented by explorers, thanks to their rich heritage and well-known landmarks.^[2]

The mentioned cities attract a total of 65 million yearly visitors, highlighting the allure of Italian cities as traveling hotspots.

Average length of stays in European regions

Each European location comes with its own unique experiences, with some making for the perfect day-trip, weekend break or week-long holiday.

Certain cities are enjoyed over a course of days while others work best as short and sweet stays.

European destinations with the longest average stays

The Canary Islands in Spain and the Ionian Islands in Greece lead in average night stays, ranking as the top European regions for extended visits based on recent data. This is likely due to their isolated location, making them preferable for longer stays.

The Canary Islands average nearly 7-night stays, while the Ionian Islands see just under 6-night stays on average and Kriti (Crete) averages just over 5-night stays.^[17]

^{Source [17]}

European regions with the shortest average stays

Burgundy and Warsaw have the lowest average night stay according to recent data.

The French region of Burgundy averages just over 1.5-night stays, while Warsaw in Poland sees travelers staying around 1.6 nights on average.^[17]

^{Source [17]}

Top European cities with low visitor counts

Europe is home to over 800 different cities, many of which may be overlooked by travelers.^[18]

Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Vilnius, and Verona earned their place on the esteemed Euromonitor Top 100 Cities Destination Index, yet each destination attracted the least visitors out of the top-ranking European cities, underscoring their untapped potential as go-to travel destinations. ^[1][2]

Heraklion, Greece – 748,000 yearly visitors

Heraklion, a port city and capital of the Greek island of Crete, was ranked 41st in Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations Index and has the lowest visitor numbers among the European cities featured in the index.^[1]

Despite ranking as one of the best cities to visit in Europe it only attracts under one million visitors (748,000) annually.^[2]

Thessaloniki, Greece – 2.5 million yearly visitors

Thessaloniki (80th) in Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations Index and has one the lowest visitor numbers among the European cities featured in the index.^[1]

With just 2.5 million yearly visitors –just over half (1.26 million) of which are international travelers, Thessaloniki offers a quieter alternative to Greece’s busier tourist hotspots like Athens.^[2]

There are plenty of places to explore in Thessaloniki, with the Byzantine history through the Rotunda of Galerius, a 4th-century monument now serving as a church, and the Church of Hagia Sophia, one of Greece’s 19 UNESCO and European Heritage Sites.^[7]

Verona, Italy – 2.8 million yearly visitors

The city of Verona (63rd), in Italy, is known for being a historic city founded in the 1st century B.C.^[19]– although recognised for being a top city to visit in Europe, it only gets 2.8 million visitors a year.^[1][2]

Domestic vs international tourists to European cities

European cities are not only desirable for global visitors but equally enjoyable for domestic visitors. Almost 3 out of 4 (72.9%) Europeans’ trips occur within their own country, this reflects a strong preference for domestic tourism and making the most of what’s close to home.^[20]

Destinations such as Mallorca and Venice lead in gathering the most overseas explorers.

^{Source [2]}

There are striking contrasts in places such as Hamburg (Germany) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain) for different reasons. Mallorca has almost nine foreign travelers for every domestic visitor whereas Hamburg has over three domestic visitors for every international traveler.

Highest domestic-to-international ratios (out of the top 20 most-visited European cities):