My Top Five European Capital Cities

1. Rome, Italy

This is probably the most ‘popular’ choice in my top five. Rome has some of the most world-famous sights such as the Colosseum, Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Roman Forum etc. The architecture and history are stunning and world-class. There are photo opportunities on every corner and street. I definitely feel it’s a city that everyone should visit.

For me the highlights were the Colosseum – the sheer size and scale of it and how it still dominates that area of the city. And I think because I had seen so many pictures and films of it, it felt great to actually see it and experience it in real life. I also absolutely loved the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican City. There’s so much to see and every inch of the walls and ceilings are covered in maps and paintings and decoration. I could easily have spent hours in here!

There’s more to the city than the famous sights and I liked escaping the crowds and wandering around the back streets in local neighbourhoods. I tucked into the best pizza ever in a tiny restaurant in Trastevere and I remember the gelato being very nice too.

2. Lisbon, Portugal

My trip to Lisbon was my first ever visit to Portugal and I really enjoyed my time in the capital.

The tram is a great way to get around the city and Tram 28 is the most famous route – it’s very atmospheric to rattle along the narrow, steep streets in a bright yellow historic tram. There are also several elevadors dotted around the city (very steep funiculars) which are great to go on plus they also save you having to walk up all the hills!

Castelo de Sao Jorge (the castle) is a must see and you get great views from the top. The district leading up to the castle, Alfama, is one of the oldest areas of the city and is good to mooch around along the narrow streets. The Praca do Comercio is a very impressive and grand square right on the waterfront. You get a sense of the wealth and power that the city once had.

I took a day trip out to the suburb of Belem. It’s worth getting there early to be one of the first inside the Monasterio dos Jeronimos (a massive Gothic monastery with fabulous carvings, tiles and stained glass). I also visited the Museu Coleccao Berardo (great modern art), stopped off for a delicious pastel de nata (custard tart) from Pasteis de Belem (one of the most famous bakeries in Lisbon), and then walked down to the water to look at the Padrao dos Descobrientos statue and Torre de Belem.

3. Stockholm, Sweden

I visited Stockholm in 2017 and it was my first time in Sweden. I loved the variety even though it’s quite a small capital city.

Gamla Stan (the old town) is great to wander around with beautiful buildings and squares. The Nobel Peace Prize museum (Nobelmuseet) was fascinating to visit. Kungliga Slottet is the Royal Palace and the official residence of the Swedish monarchy. The interiors are lovely with tons of exhibits to look at.

The city has loads of great museums and galleries. I really enjoyed the Moderna Museet (great modern art and cool outdoor sculptures), ABBA: The Museum (no explanation needed, great fun), Fotografiska (for fabulous photography), Vasamuseet (a maritime museum with the remains of the Vasa, the only almost intact 17th century ship ever to be salvaged) and Skansen (an open-air museum showcasing Swedish life across the country).

I also went on a boat trip around the Stockholm archipelago. It was lovely to see all the hundreds of little islands that make up the archipelago. It’s really green and wooded and a popular place for locals to have their summer homes where they escape the city.

4. Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is quite a small capital city however this makes it great for a short break. My trip was the first time I had visited one of the Baltic states.

The Old Town is beautiful and especially Raekoja plats (the main square) with the Town Hall and surrounded with gorgeous merchant houses. I really enjoyed walking around all the Lower Town Walls. There used to be 66 towers along the city walls and about 20 remain today. The whole Old Town is lovely to wander around and take photographs.

I visited Kadriorg Park and KUMU art museum which had some great exhibitions and art. I also explored the Kalamaja district. It’s a regenerated area of the city where deserted soviet-era buildings and factories have been restored /renovated. There’s now lots of cafes, bars, restaurants, galleries and shops and it has a really nice vibe.

During my time in Tallinn I went a (long) day trip to Helsinki, Finland. The ferry takes just over two hours and it was a great opportunity to visit another city and country (even if just for one day).

5. Berlin, Germany

I only stayed for two nights so it was very much a flying visit to Berlin and I would like to visit again. The city left a big impression on me even in such a short space of time.

The main reason for wanting to visit was to see the Berlin Wall (what’s left of it) and key points like Checkpoint Charlie as well as the ‘grander’ sights such as the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag. None of these disappointed. It’s such an important city in recent European history and you really do get a sense of the history and the past as well as the regeneration (and moving forward) in places such as Potsdamer Platz. The Jewish Museum Berlin is really interesting and informative and I feel it’s a must visit when in Berlin.

I visited with a group of friends and we enjoyed quite a few bars and restaurants in different areas of the city. Kreuzberg sticks in my mind as we had a really lovely Turkish meal before going to various bars for a few drinks. We also experienced the more traditional beer gardens and beer halls.