The British magazine Condé Nast Traveler, specializing in travel, has published the long-awaited ranking “The Best Cities in Europe: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards”, an event that every year collects and interprets readers’ preferences, drawing a map of beauty, culture and quality of life in the old continent. The survey takes shape through a careful analysis of the answers provided in different categories – from hospitality to the gastronomic offer, up to urban liveability – returning a weighted average that expresses the overall level of satisfaction for each city.
The list, made up of twenty destinations, ranges from Prague, which closes the ranking, to the leaders Valletta, which dominates the ranking. What emerges is a varied portrait of contemporary Europe, where history, architecture, tradition, sustainability and cultural liveliness coexist peacefully. The success of Italy and Spain should be underlined, both with three cities in the top positions, while the Scandinavian nations confirm an increasingly strong appeal, with several presences in the top ten.
The essence of the most loved cities
From historic capitals to emerging destinations, the survey highlights how there is no universal formula for the perfect “city break”. Each awarded city contains a unique combination of characteristics: creative energy, architectural beauty, nightlife, local cuisine and the ability to offer authentic experiences at affordable prices. Europe thus shows itself in its multiplicity: refined and lively, modern and linked to its own memory.
The podium of 2025
Valletta, Malta (97.33 points)
The Maltese capital takes the top spot as the most loved city in Europe. Small and intimate, but full of charm, Valletta is a baroque jewel set in the Mediterranean, where the golden color of the fortifications meets the intense blue of the sea. The narrow and sinuous alleys reveal glimpses that seem to come from a painting, while the squares tell a story of domination and rebirth. It is no coincidence that the urban landscape has been chosen as the backdrop for world-famous productions, from Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” to the “Game of Thrones” series.
Oslo, Norway (94.36 points)
Oslo enters the rankings with a triumphant debut. It is a city in constant balance between innovation and nature, where experimental design intertwines with the forests and crystal clear waters of the fjords. The city of Oslo offers an incredible urban itinerary, which ranges from swimming in the lake to panoramic saunas, up to the glass and steel opera houses that seem suspended between sky and sea. The Norwegian capital embodies the idea of a sustainable city, where modernity blends with a deep respect for the environment.
Vienna, Austria (93.75 points)
The Austrian capital maintains its place on the podium for the second consecutive year. Vienna is a hymn to beauty in every form: imperial architecture, classical music that accompanies walks along the avenues, and the aroma of coffee that fills the historic rooms. Its charm, subtle and persistent, conquers anyone who arrives there, suspended between the nostalgia of the past and the elegance of the present.
Italy as protagonist
Italy also makes an excellent impression in this edition of the Readers’ Choice Awards, with three cities present among the top twenty.
11th place – Florence (91.39 points)
After being nineteenth in 2024, Florence gains ground and regains the hearts of travellers. It is the cradle of the Renaissance, guardian of masterpieces by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli, but also a city that is lived in the open air. Every square and every bridge tell a story, while the skyline, dotted with domes and bell towers, appears like a painting with warm and intense colours.
13th place – Rome (89.21 points)
Rome remains one of the most popular European destinations. In 2025 he experienced months of profound emotional intensity, between the pain of the death of Pope Francis and the joy of the election of Pope Leo XVII. The capital keeps its magnetism intact: among thousand-year-old ruins and lively neighborhoods, it can guarantee a travel experience that blends spirituality, art and daily life.
18th place – Venice (87.06 points)
Venice is a city that never ceases to amaze. The canals, Gothic houses and bell towers that emerge from the lagoon make up an unrepeatable, fragile and wonderful landscape. The Condé Nast Traveler article invites you to discover it sensitively, choosing conscious tourism, away from the crowds, perhaps exploring less traveled islands like Murano, where master glassmakers and lace artisans keep centuries-old legacies and traditions alive.
The twenty best European cities of 2025
Here is the complete ranking of the Readers’ Choice Awards, with the related approval scores:
1) Valletta, Malta – 97.33
2) Oslo, Norway – 94.36
3) Vienna, Austria – 93.75
4) Copenhagen, Denmark – 93.33
4) Madrid, Spain – 93.33
6) Munich, Germany – 92.89
7) Lisbon, Portugal – 92.22
8) Stockholm, Sweden – 92.06
9) San Sebastian, Spain – 91.94
10) Palma de Mallorca, Spain – 91.67
11) Florence, Italy – 91.39
12) Athens, Greece – 89.63
13) Rome, Italy – 89.21
14) Paris, France – 89.02
15) Marseille, France – 88.15
16) Reykjavik, Iceland – 87.62
17) Porto, Portugal – 87.56
18) Venice, Italy – 87.06
19) Budapest, Hungary – 87.01
20) Prague, Czech Republic – 86.94
