Travel
Amsterdam vs Berlin: which is finest for a European metropolis break?
Planning a European metropolis break however struggling to decide on between Amsterdam and Berlin?
Each of those capital cities have a lot to supply – traditionally important websites, streets and museums stuffed with cutting-edge artwork and traditional masterpieces, and nightlife that may maintain you dancing properly into the next day – however every with their very own distinctive spin.
Right here, two Lonely Planet writers put ahead their case for why their favourite metropolis must be your best choice too.
Select compact Amsterdam, a really world village
Over twenty years writing for Lonely Planet, Catherine Le Nevez has authored quite a few guides to the Netherlands and Pocket Amsterdam, and whereas she’s additionally lined Germany many occasions, it’s Amsterdam that utterly steals her coronary heart.
For me, Amsterdam is the higher possibility for a trip and right here’s the largest cause why: at 1 / 4 of Berlin’s dimension, in Amsterdam it’s distilled right into a concentrated area. Cozy, intimate and stuffed with attraction, with its slender streets, canals and candlelit bruin café (a standard Dutch pub) – and <1 million inhabitants made up of 180 nationalities – it seems like a worldwide village.
But that is additionally one of many world’s nice cities. Amsterdam is infused with historical past (in 2025, it celebrates 750 years since this “dam constructed throughout the Amstel” was granted toll-free standing, springboarding it to grow to be a seafaring superpower) and awash with legacies like its Seventeenth-century canal ring (a UNESCO World Heritage site, as are Amsterdam’s surrounding forts, dikes and polders that type the ingenious Dutch Water Defence Lines). Although town remained largely intact after WWII, poignant reminders embody the profoundly transferring Anne Frank Huis.
Amsterdam nonetheless has echoes too of its place as Europe’s counterculture magisch centrum (“magical middle”) within the late Sixties/early Seventies, when legendary nightlife venues like Melkweg (a former dairy) and Paradiso (a Nineteenth-century church) had been reborn, and its open-mindedness and free-spiritedness permeate by way of town. Positive, Berlin’s clubbing is superb, however Amsterdam – the primary metropolis on the planet to nominate a devoted “evening mayor” – has an epic EDM scene, with 24-hour venues like Radion and an outstanding competition line-up that features the zeitgeist-defining Amsterdam Open Air and ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event), to not point out the world’s first digital music museum, Our House. (There’s no scarcity of different music venues, together with the wonderful live performance corridor the Concertgebouw, snazzy Muziekgebouw, and Dutch National Opera & Ballet.)
Then there’s Amsterdam’s unbelievable trove of artwork, from Rembrandt’s former home and studio and his masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum at Museumplein, alongside the Van Gogh Museum. Not solely historic, artwork is in overdrive on this hypercreative surroundings. In Amsterdam Noord – town’s most eclectic and electrifying post-industrial neighborhood – works are created in situ in repurposed shipyards at gargantuan street-art museum, STRAAT and broedplaats (“breeding floor”) NDSM Loods – and even complete new artforms like knowledge sculptures on the mind-blowing intersection of tech and artwork at Nxt.
Noord is simply 5 minutes from the middle by free passenger and bicycle ferry. And that’s the place Amsterdam’s compactness actually comes into its personal. Nothing is way right here, every thing is walkable and/or cyclable (there are over 500km/310 miles of motorcycle lanes), and public transport is superb. Within the time it takes you to determine the place you’re entering into Berlin, in Amsterdam, you’re already there.
Admittedly, a flipside to Amsterdam’s small dimension and immense attraction is that overtourism has had a particular affect right here, however authorities are discovering revolutionary methods to handle it, and aware guests – within the spirit of a real world village – are completely welcome. You possibly can simply skip the crowds by visiting at less-busy occasions and by visiting under-the-radar neighborhoods, and have significant experiences, akin to cruising the waterways aboard a former refugee boat helmed by refugee guides, with Rederij Lampedusa. Subsequent to its dock is Mediamatic, bringing collectively artwork, nature, biology and plant-based meals grown in its personal on-site greenhouses. It captures the essence of the place Amsterdam is at this time, and the place it’s going: sustainability initiatives are powering up throughout Amsterdam because it goals to grow to be a fully circular economy by 2050.
Like Amsterdam, the whole country (which might match 9 occasions over into Germany) is compact and crisscrossed by bicycle paths, offering day trips that in Berlin could be thought-about a commute. By practice you’ll be able to zip from Amsterdam Centraal Station to improbable Dutch cities like Haarlem (quarter-hour), Rotterdam (39 minutes) and numerous others, with powdery seashores, dunes, forests, tulip fields and a lot extra inside day-tripping distance too.
If you happen to’re in a position to go to each Amsterdam and Berlin, you’ll be able to even go to sleep in both metropolis aboard the European Sleeper night train and get up within the different. But when it’s a must to select only one? Make it Amsterdam.
Berlin is the place wealthy historical past meets cutting-edge cool
Creator of all editions of Lonely Planet Berlin and Pocket Berlin, Andrea Schulte-Peevers decamped from Los Angeles to Berlin 15 years in the past and has by no means seemed again. She considers town her private fountain of youth.
The primary time I set foot in Berlin, I used to be only a child and the Wall nonetheless stood tall. Returning within the post-Wall Nineties, I witnessed a metropolis busy shaping its new identification. Since then, I’ve watched it develop into a stunning – generally dysfunctional however at all times vibrant – metropolis that continues to be a cauldron of experimentation and a magnet for start-ups.
As soon as Berlin hooks you, you’re hooked for all times. Not like canal-laced Amsterdam, which is compact and comfy, the German capital is so expansive that it hardly ever feels overcrowded. When you’ve ticked off the enduring spots just like the Brandenburg Gate, East Side Gallery, Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie, dive into the idiosyncratic neighborhoods – or Kieze as locals name them. Sip chilly beers by the canal in alt-flavored Kreuzberg, launch right into a Neukölln all-nighter, hunt for indie threads round Hackescher Markt or channel royalty in Charlottenburg’s Prussian palace.
Sorry Amsterdam, however in the case of tradition, Berlin positively has the sting. Positive, you’ve acquired Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum, however we’ve acquired extra museums than wet days! You might simply spend a day getting misplaced on Museum Island alone, exploring treasures from Bronze Age relics to modern marvels – no surprise it’s a UNESCO World Heritage website. The arc of inventive expression is on show in dozens of galleries, from Outdated Masters within the Gemäldegalerie to the Boros Collection’s edgy artworks inside a WWII bunker.
And artwork will not be confined to museums in Berlin. Town’s punk spirit and Peter Pan character have virtually turned it into an city canvas, from stickers on lampposts to epic murals by road artwork legends like Shephard Fairey and Blu. After which there are these distinctive, game-changing experiences. The place else are you able to fly a kite or cycle round a former airport resurrected as a vast outdoor playground? Or admire elegant road artwork and breathtaking metropolis views in a Chilly Warfare spy station atop a hill constructed from wartime particles? Solely in Berlin!
Nightlife? Amsterdam’s acquired recreation, however Berlin has mastered the artwork of the misplaced weekend. With no curfew to interrupt the enjoyable, you’ll be able to actually go clubbing from Friday until Monday. Can’t crack the code to get into myth-shrouded Berghain? No worries, Berlin is full of spots the place you’ll be able to let loose and have a blast, plus pop-up occasions in parks, on bridges and even at Spätis (late-night convenience stores).
Winter in Berlin may be brutal, however darkness and gloom are rapidly forgotten when – as an alternative of Amsterdam’s tulips – our cherry bushes begin displaying off their pink-blossom glory, signaling the comfortable arrival of beer backyard season. Summer time can carry infernal warmth waves, however there’s no cooler treatment than spreading your towel and dipping right into a silky lake just like the woodsy Schlachtensee or century-old Strandbad Wannsee. On the town, world hipsters gravitate in the direction of the Badeschiff, a river cargo barge turned swimming pool moored within the Spree River.
Lastly, let’s whet your urge for food for Berlin’s culinary temptations. Gone are the times when the German capital was a white patch on the foodie map. Now Michelin stars sprinkle down, and two of our eating places are among the many world’s high 50. Equally thrilling are the unsung road meals heroes that replicate flavors from the 190 nations calling Berlin residence. From arepas to zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), you’ll discover it in Berlin. And don’t go away city with out trying our famous Currywurst. This Berlin native from 1949 is a joyride to your palate: the sausage snaps like your endurance in rush hour, the tangy sauce dances in your tongue, and the fries tag alongside for the enjoyable.
Irrespective of in case you’ve come for the historical past, the nightlife or the road meals, Berlin will certainly have you ever craving for extra.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe primary go to of Hawaiian royals to London two centuries in the past will characteristic in a brand new exhibit on the British Museum.
Hawai’i: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans is a “dazzling celebration of the wealthy artistry of Hawaiian makers, previous current and future”, based on the museum.
The exhibition, which opens in January, will commemorate greater than 200 years for the reason that go to of Hawaiian King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu to London in 1824 when the royal delegation have been searching for an alliance and safety from the Crown.
This journey to the capital included a go to to the British Museum – the primary file of Native Hawaiian royals on the museum.
Royal Assortment Enterprises LtdThe exhibition will characteristic round 150 objects and artworks together with many by no means seen within the UK.
Among the many highlights is an ahu ʻula, a feathered cloak despatched in 1810 by the primary king of unified Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha I, to King George III.
Lent by King Charles III from the Royal Assortment, the cloak will probably be on show for the primary time in over 100 years, alongside the Hawaiian king’s authentic letter requesting assist and safety from the British Crown.
Trustees of the British MuseumGuests to the museum will probably be greeted on the steps of the Nice Courtroom by a nine-foot (2.7m) picture of the god Kū, the god of warfare and governance, dressed with a recent loincloth and standing atop a pole rediscovered inside a historic plinth.
A finely carved drum accompanied by an historic chant recounting early Polynesian migrations to Hawaii will characteristic alongside a bowl with determine, not too long ago returned from mortgage to Hawaii’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, that represents actions of individuals and objects between the Pacific and the UK.
The Anglo-Franco proclamation of 1843, on mortgage from The Nationwide Archives, highlights the UK and France’s formal recognition of Hawaii’s independence and emphasises diplomatic bonds between the nations.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe creation of the exhibition concerned “the meticulous conservation of ancestral treasures and the inclusion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) all through the area”, the British Museum mentioned.
Dr Alice Christophe, head of Oceania on the museum, mentioned the exhibit is a tribute to Native Hawaiian makers, previous and current.
She added: “It tells the story of the deep and layered relationship between Hawaii and the UK, reflecting on care, sovereignty and the complexity of allyship.
“We hope this present will spark conversations and uplift folks within the archipelago and past.”
The exhibition will run from 15 January to 25 May 2026.
France is a rustic steeped in historical past, and nowhere is that this extra evident than its fantastically preserved medieval cities.
From Alsace’s timber-framed homes to Provence’s dramatic hilltop villages.
These cities permit guests to step again in time, wander cobblestone streets, marvel at historical structure, and expertise the appeal of bygone eras.
On this listing, we’ve gathered 20 of the best-preserved medieval cities in France that you simply completely should see.
20 Greatest Medieval Cities in France To Go to
Scroll down to find the 20 finest medieval cities in France that needs to be on each historical past buff and tradition fanatic’s bucket listing!
1. Riquewihr, Alsace
Riquewihr is a picturesque village in Alsace typically described as some of the lovely in France.
Its well-preserved Sixteenth-century structure, with colourful half-timbered homes lining slender cobblestone streets, makes it really feel like stepping right into a fairy story.
Guests ought to come right here to expertise the distinctive Alsatian tradition, discover the encircling vineyards, and style the area’s well-known wines.
Don’t miss the Dolder Tower, a Thirteenth-century defensive gate, or wine cellars providing tastings. The Alsace villages are among the most picturesque places in France.
2. Eguisheim, Alsace
Eguisheim, a cute fairytale town in France, is thought for its concentric round format and vibrant floral shows.
The city’s magnificence lies in its colourful medieval homes, charming central sq., and surrounding vineyards.
Guests will take pleasure in strolling by the slender streets, visiting the Chapel of St. Leo IX, and mountain climbing the close by Three Castles path.
The city can also be well-known for its storks, which nest on rooftops throughout summer time.
3. Rocamadour, Occitanie
One in all France’s most unique towns is Rocamadour, a vertical village dramatically constructed into the face of a cliff. Its beautiful location and spiritual significance make it a must-visit place that needs to be in your France bucket list.
The city is dwelling to a number of vital spiritual websites, together with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Guests can climb the Grand Escalier (Nice Staircase) to the château on the prime, which gives breathtaking views of the Alzou Canyon.
4. Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne
Sarlat is without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval cities in France, well-known for its golden stone buildings and gastronomic delights.
Guests ought to come right here to wander the labyrinthine streets, discover the bustling market, and take pleasure in native specialties like foie gras and truffles.
Don’t miss the panoramic view from the highest of the Sainte-Marie church tower or a go to to the Manoir de Gisson.
5. Dinan, Brittany
Dinan is a walled city recognized for its spectacular ramparts, half-timbered homes, and picturesque port.
Guests will love strolling alongside the previous metropolis partitions, exploring the quaint Rue du Jerzual, and having fun with a meal at one of many cafes alongside the previous port.
The city’s magnificence is enhanced by its location overlooking the Rance River. Go to the Château de Dinan and climb the Tour de l’Horloge for panoramic views.
6. Honfleur, Normandy
Honfleur, with its picturesque previous harbor and slate-covered home facades, has lengthy been a favourite topic for artists.
Guests come for the charming ambiance, maritime historical past, and glorious seafood eating places.
Key points of interest embody the wood Church of Saint Catherine, the Eugene Boudin Museum, and the gorgeous Jardin des Personnalités.
7. Perouges, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Perouges is a superbly preserved medieval walled city that appears frozen in time. Its cobbled streets and stone homes make it a preferred movie location.
Guests ought to expertise life in a Fifteenth-century city, style the native specialty “galette de Pérouges,” and benefit from the peaceable ambiance. Don’t miss the central Place du Tilleul or the Eglise-Forteresse.
8. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Occitanie
Perched excessive above the Lot River, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a shocking medieval village that has impressed many artists. Its magnificence lies in its dramatic setting, Gothic facades, and slender alleyways.
Guests can discover quite a few artisan outlets, hike within the surrounding space, or take a ship journey on the Lot River. The village is especially magical within the night when the day-trippers have left.
9. Gordes, Provence
Gordes is a placing hilltop village within the Luberon area, well-known for its stone buildings cascading down the hillside.
Guests come for the breathtaking views, particularly at sundown, and to discover the encircling lavender fields and olive groves.
Key points of interest embody the Sixteenth-century château, the close by Sénanque Abbey, and the standard Tuesday market.
10. Locronan, Brittany
Locronan is a small city that has maintained its Renaissance appeal, with granite homes and an exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the dearth of seen trendy infrastructure, making it really feel actually timeless. The city is thought for its spiritual heritage, conventional Breton festivals, and as a filming location.
Don’t miss the Church of Saint Ronan or the native artisan workshops.
11. Cordes-sur-Ciel, Occitanie
Cordes-sur-Ciel, or “Cordes within the Sky,” is aptly named for its hilltop location, typically shrouded in morning mist. This bastide city is thought for its well-preserved Gothic structure and thriving arts scene.
Guests ought to come to discover the medieval homes, go to artisan workshops, and revel in panoramic views of the countryside. The city hosts a well-known medieval competition every July.
12. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks in France, a medieval marvel that rises dramatically from the ocean.
This UNESCO World Heritage website is a small rocky island topped by a shocking abbey and surrounded by a picturesque village.
Guests are drawn by its distinctive structure, wealthy historical past, and the fascinating phenomenon of maximum tides that isolate and join it to the mainland.
Discover the winding streets, go to the magnificent abbey, and be taught concerning the website’s significance as a pilgrimage heart.
13. Minerve, Occitanie
Minerve is a small village with a dramatic historical past, perched on a rocky peninsula between two deep gorges. Guests come for its Cathar historical past, beautiful pure setting, and glorious native wines.
Discover the village’s slender streets, go to the Twelfth-century church, and be taught concerning the Cathar siege on the small museum.
14. Monpazier, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Monpazier is without doubt one of the best-preserved bastide cities in France, recognized for its excellent grid format and exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the well-preserved medieval and Seventeenth-century structure, the lined market corridor, and the peaceable ambiance.
15. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is nestled between two rocky cliffs, with a star suspended on a series between them.
The city is known for its advantageous porcelain and proximity to the Verdon Gorge – one of many best places in the French Riviera area.
Guests ought to discover the slender streets, go to the Notre Dame de Beauvoir chapel perched above the city, and store for native ceramics.
16. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Occitanie
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a serene medieval village tucked right into a dramatic gorge on the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela.
Its UNESCO-listed Gellone Abbey, with its exceptional Romanesque structure, rises above a maze of slender streets and stone homes.
Don’t miss the abbey’s lovely cloister, the Place de la Liberté with its historical elm tree, or the satan’s bridge spanning the gorge.
17. Conques, Occitanie
Conques is a jewel of Romanesque artwork nestled in a wooded gorge in Occitanie.
Its magnificent Abbey Church of Saint Foy, with its intricate tympanum and golden reliquary, has drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years alongside the Santiago de Compostela route.
Don’t miss the treasury’s medieval goldsmith assortment, the carved capitals within the cloister, or the sundown view from the Bancarel viewpoint.
18. Najac, Occitanie
Najac is a shocking medieval fortress city perched dramatically alongside a single ridge excessive above the Aveyron River.
Its majestic Thirteenth-century royal fortress stands on the highest level, whereas the village’s stone and half-timbered homes stretch alongside the ridge in a novel linear format.
Don’t miss the Gothic church of Saint-Jean with its uncommon fortified options, the panoramic views from the fortress hold, or the traditional lined market corridor the place native farmers promote their produce.
19. Vézelay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Vézelay is a hilltop village in Burgundy topped by its magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene.
This UNESCO World Heritage website rises majestically above the Remedy Valley, its golden stone glowing within the sundown whereas its medieval streets are lined with historic homes and ramparts.
Don’t miss the spectacular views over the Burgundian countryside, or the home the place Jules Roy lived, now a literature museum.
20. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a remarkably preserved medieval city perched on a hilltop close to Good, remodeled into an inventive haven within the twentieth century.
Its large medieval ramparts encircle slender cobblestone streets lined with elegant stone homes, whereas up to date artwork galleries and boutiques occupy historical buildings.
Remaining Ideas on The Greatest French Medieval Cities
Exploring France’s medieval cities is like stepping right into a residing historical past e-book.
Every village gives a novel glimpse into the nation’s wealthy previous, well-preserved structure, and timeless appeal.
From the long-lasting Mont Saint-Michel to the lesser-known gems like Perouges, these cities present unforgettable experiences for historical past lovers, tradition lovers, and informal vacationers alike.
Able to plan your trip in France? Use our complete France Travel Guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the unbelievable locations.
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