Are you looking for your next travel destination? If you love electronic music, contemporary art installations, bookstores, stationery, and design stores with interior and clothing pieces, these are my top recommendations of cities for you to visit!
My top 6 favorite cities in Europe
- Berlin, Germany
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Budapest, Hungary
- Stockholm, Sweden
Smaller cities, but more special and interesting
- Leipzig, Germany
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
I think the best way to explore these cities is to walk around and use Google Maps to find cool places nearby. If you’re looking for an electronic music event, check out Resident Advisor and search for the city you’re in. If you’re interested in a certain type of art or music, try finding local artists or musicians on social media and ask them for tips, or see if they’re announcing something on their stories or recent posts.
When I’m in doubt, ı always go to my two favorite cities, which are Berlin and Copenhagen. I know they will never disappoint. Below you’ll find some of the best places I know, from really cool stores to inspiring spaces and hangout spots. I’m planning to provide a more in-depth travel guide to Berlin and Copenhagen in the future, but here are a few places to start with.
Berlin City Recommendations
Berlin is the capital of Germany, and for me, it represents the best place in Europe to go for electronic music and art installations. I moved, lived, and stayed there twice for multiple months at a time, with shorter trips in between. I think it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for excitement, to get inspired, and to be exposed to a more accepting and open culture, compared to the Nordics.
Berlin offers all types of cultures, from fancy restaurants and world-renowned museums such as the Bode and Pergamon, to alternative subcultures of arts and music. When I first moved there, in the first month, I had already been invited to a techno rave in an old war bunker from WW2, a networking event at a startup coworking space, and participated in a demonstration against the war in Ukraine, where more than 100,000 people participated. There is literally something for everyone. Something about Berlin makes me feel like there are endless possibilities, that I can be free, and that I can dress, be, and act in any way I want to. It’s a city filled with the young and old, creatives and artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, normal families, and mothers with their strollers. There is no one-size-fits-all, more like all-sizes-can-fit.
In Berlin, you will find amazing bookstores and stationery stores such as
For cool places to hang out, look at
- Urban Spree
- Mauerpark (on Sundays, there’s a market)
- Club der visionaere
- minimal Bar
- Mein Haus am See
For art, visit
For clothing stores, check out
- The Store X
- Voo Store
- Trash-Schick (I don’t know why, I just love it)
Related articles
- Dark Matter Berlin review (light art & audiovisual exhibition)
- Jobba från coworking space – Erfarenhet från Factory Berlin
Copenhagen City Recommendations
To me, Copenhagen is the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing city in Europe. I lived in this city twice, and I have more tips than I can share. Copenhagen is a city where the architecture is absolutely gorgeous, the people are amazingly well-dressed, and the stores make me want to put in more effort in the way I dress and how I show up in the world.
Compared to Berlin, Copenhagen is smaller, cozier, and more similar to Sweden, where I’m from. Copenhagen is not a big city, but it feels alive. I am constantly impressed by the taste, style, and quality of life I see there. The people have their own styles, the cafés and bars have an old charm, and they keep old things. The city is filled with second-hand stores, vintage furniture, and markets. The inner city is lined with gorgeous, well-taken care of buildings from the 18th century until now. If you love photography, this is the place to go. It’s also super safe, and people leave their computers, bikes, and valuables unsupervised, and still they don’t get stolen.
My favorite places to hang out with friends and people in Copenhagen
- Bo-Bi Bar – My absolute favorite place, feels like a hidden gem
- Rīga – sitting outside
- Kanal Bodega – sitting outside by the canal and watching the boats drift by
- Harbo Bar
- Cafe Understellet
- Floss Bar
Favorite bookstores and stationery stores
For Danish design and clothing, go to
- Dansk – Contemporary Danish Design
- BauBau – Vintage clothing
- Godt Fund Vintage – Vintage Danish lamps, art, and things
- Kræss – Danish/Nordic contemporary handicraft!
- Frama – Furniture store
- Illums Bolighus
- Posterland
For restaurants, try out
- Delphine – My absolute favorite place, it is so beautiful and has great food!
- Lamar
- Omar
- Palazzo Diner
- Mad & Kaffe Vesterbro
For cafés and bakeries, visit
- Hart – There are multiple locations around the city
- Bottega Barlie
- Apotek 57
If I could wish for anything, it would be to have the ability to live between Gothenburg, Berlin, and Copenhagen forever, because they all have their charm.