Top ten capital cities for first time visitors to Europe

Welcome to 2025, a brand new year. In January many people take time to think through where they want to travel in 2025. Let’s say you’ve decided to go to Europe for the first time. If that’s you, you are in the right place. Today I will share my top 10 capital cities for firsttime visitors to Europe.

Why visit a capital city on your first trip to Europe?

Let me start by answering the question why visit a capital city during your first trip to Europe. There are three compelling reasons.

1. Capital cities in Europe are the best connected for transportation purposes especially if you’re flying over from the states.
2. Typically capital cities have the most sights, the best food, and plenty to see and do.
3. You can get a feel for the rest of the country by visiting the capital. A good example is if you want to know what the Netherlands is like spend some time in Amsterdam.

The criteria used to create this list

You may be wondering how I created this list. Here are the 10 criteria I used.

1. I have visited in the past decade. I don’t want give old information.
2. Historic sights to see
3. Cultural sights such as museums
4. Food and drink
5. How easy ss it to get to the city from the US
6. How much will it cost to visit
7. Culture shock for Americans This is especially important for your first trip to Europe.
8. The weather
9. The language as in do they speak English
10. The location within Europe. How easy is it to get to other places in Europe from the city.

Capital City #10 – Brussels, Belgium

Some people think Brussels is boring. I don’t. There are several reasons to go here including chocolate, beer, fries and waffles. The food is excellent. There are plenty of flights to Brussels from the US, and it is well connected to the rest of Europe by both train and airplane. The last thing I’ll mention if you’re looking for a lot of sights to see then Brussels is probably not a great choice.

Capital city #9 – Edinburgh, Scotland

Some of you may say that Edinburgh is not a European capital city. Please do not tell the Scots that. From a historical standpoint there are a ton of sights to see. If you are a whiskey lover you need to go here. Two things not great. Obviously the weather stinks. It rains a lot in Edinburgh. Second it’s a little bit remote. It might be hard to get some other places in Europe from here unless you fly.

Capital City #8 – Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is famous for music as well as its party scene. There’s some historical sites as well. If you are a Guinness lover absolutely you need to go here. Guinness does taste better when you get it straight from the factory. Similar to Edinburgh there are two challenges when it comes to Dublin. The weather is iffy. Connections to Europe are not as plentiful. I will mention though getting back to the States from Dublin is easy. You can check in to TSA in Dublin and go straight through customs when you get back.

#7 – Vienna, Austria

This city is overlooked by some tourists. I’m a big fan of Vienna, Austria for three reasons.

1. Music – especially if you like classical music.
2. History – the Habsburgs ruled for centuries from this location. There’s plenty of palaces and other historical sights scattered across the old city center.
3. Worldclass museums

If you enjoy Paris and have never been to Vienna Austria I highly recommend you go.

#6 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

There several good reasons to visit Amsterdam including good museums. It is such a unique City with all the canals and such. There are plenty of flights in and out of Amsterdam from the USA, as well as all over Europe. It has an excellent train system. If you’re going to visit the Netherlands or Europe Amsterdam is a great starting place.

Capital City #5 – Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon Portugal is a beautiful capital city that gets great weather almost year round. It is super popular these days for several reasons. The food is excellent and there are also a lot of great sights. Two things to keep in mind when visiting Lisbon. Portugal is not as well connected to the rest of Europe as some countries on this list. It is a hilly city. If you like walking you’re going to get a workout in Lisbon.

Capital city #4 – Madrid, Spain

Another beautiful capital city with several excellent historical sites is Madrid, Spain. It also has worldclass museums and the food in Madrid is to die for. The other thing I’ll mention is that Madrid is located smack dab in the middle of Spain. If you visit Spain I would start here. You can get to just about anywhere else via high-speed train or planes. Driving in this country is also easy.

#3 – Rome, Italy

Rome is known as the Eternal City.  I don’t think any city has more historical sites than this one. If you love Italian food you’re going to have some of the best of your life here. I enjoy Rome a lot. The only reason I won’t go in 2025 is the Jubilee. It will be packed more than usual. Also, I would avoid Rome in the summer. It will be hot and the air conditioning isn’t quite to the same standard as we have in the US.

Capital city #2 – Paris, France

Paris may be the most beautiful European capital. In 2025 it will be particularly nice since they hosted the Olympics. The other reason is they just reopened the Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s been closed after the fire from 2020. I cannot wait to see what the interior looks like. There can be a little bit of a language barrier if you’re like me and you know zero French. Deal with the language barrier the best you can. Most French speak English. Don’t worry you’ll be fine.

#1 – London, the UK

My top pick for people going to Europe for the first time, especially Americans is London, the UK. There are several reasons I put London at the top of the list.

1. They speak English there so the culture shock won’t be quite as much.
2. A ton to see and do there
3. There’s actually good food scene in London. It’s ranked one of the best cities in the world for food

The last thing I’ll mention is London is well connected to all over Europe. If you’re an American and you want to go to Europe I highly recommend starting your adventure in London.

Bonus – Barcelona, Catalonia

Let me throw in a bonus place and that is Barcelona Catalonia. Now I know once again some of you saying it’s not a European Capital. For heaven’s sake, don’t tell the Catalans that. The reason I’m including it is twofold. First, it’s much different than Madrid the capital of Spain. Two, it’s located on the med unlike any of the others on this list. There’s lots to see and do and the food is excellent. I’ve been to Barcelona multiple times. It is fantastic.

I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.