Lisbon

IF YOU are looking for your next European city break, then look no further as the best spots on the continent have been announced.

From popular Spanish spots to Italian hidden gems, the best 15 cities in Europe have been named – though it is bad news for the UK that didn’t feature on the list at all.

Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are decided by readers’ votes and this year over 661,000 people took part.

Coming out on top is Florence in Italy, scoring 89.48 out of 100.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey, who has previously visited the city, said: “There is no better place to go for art lovers, with Florence being home to famous works from Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci.

“You can also dine like a king, with slices of pizza for €1.50 (£1.29) and pasta dishes from €5 (£4.29).

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“All of the major attractions are a short walk from each other although if you really need a break, you can book an electric golf-buggy eco-tour that traverses the narrow roads.

“Something unusual to keep an eye out for is Florence’s wine windows – ordering a glass of vino through a tiny hole in the wall was created as a way to socially distance during the plague in the 17th century.”

Then in second place is Prague, in the Czech Republic – nicknamed ‘jewel in the crown of Europe’ – scoring 88.89 out of 100.

One Sun reporter who previously visited the city said: “Prague may be best known for its beer, but hillside winery Vini ní Altan is a great option.

“There are great views from inside the intricately carved wooden gazebo, and children can burn off some energy in the vine-strewn park below.

“Prague boasts the largest castle in the world — effectively a small town on top of a hill.

Rounding out the top three is Salzburg in Austria, scoring 88.31 out of 100.

The Sun’s Laura Purkess said: “Salzburg, the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music, sits in Austria’s beautiful Eastern Alps.

“While most of us associate the Alps with snow- caps and skiing, this city makes an ideal summer holiday destination — and it’s affordable.

“If you’re a keen hiker, it’s relatively easy to get from the city centre into the mountains which are filled with stunning, tree-lined trails that take anywhere from 15 minutes to three hours to complete.

“Hardcore fans of The Sound of Music should swap the free walking tour for a proper guided one of the film sets that takes you to locations beyond the city centre, including Church Mondsee, where Maria wed the Baron.”

Porto, Portugal and Ljubljana, Slovenia – nicknamed the ‘green jewel of Europe’ – then followed to round out the top five.

Two spots in Spain featured on the list with Seville in 10th and Madrid in 13th.

Seville is the capital of Spain’s Andalusia region and is known for its Moorish architecture as well as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

As for the Spanish capital, Madrid, you can head to a number of museums and Royal Palaces.

Two spots in Italy also featured on this list with Rome in seventh, and for a lesser-known Italian spot, head to Siena which featured in 14th.

The medieval city found in Tuscany, boasts a UNESCO-listed historic centre, where you can head to Piazza del Campo – the main square – and Duomo di Siena – a cathedral with black-and-white marble.

And places like Funchal – nicknamed the Hawaii of Europe – snuck into the top 20.

THE MOST liveable cities in the world have been named – but the UK didn’t make the cut.

Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey has been running for nearly 20 years, looking at a number of factors into what makes a city loved by its locals.

This includes everything from safety and connectivity to green spaces and late night openings.

New this year is ” excitement, urban ambition and security,” when it comes to making a city great.

Sadly, none in the UK made the top 20, with the study citing London missing out as it doesn’t have the “security of certain mature markets“.

What did come out on top was the city of Tokyo in Japan.

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It was praised for both its stability and security, citing its “old-fashioned sense of security”.

It explained: “Young children walk to school unaccompanied by their parents, huge events take place every week without major disorder, and crime rates are consistently low.

“Tokyo should celebrate being such a well-mannered metropolis but its exemplary conduct is never taken for granted.”

However, a number of European cities made the top 20 list.

In second place was Copenhagen, citing its “booming restaurant and sauna scene” as well as its low crime rate and urban cycling schemes.

This was followed by Lisbon in third place, for it’s great public transport and local communities.

Lisbon has even become one of the top expat destinations in the world.

Coming in fourth was Vienna, followed by Sydney in 5th.

Other European entries to make the top 10 include Zurich (6th), Madrid (7th), Paris (8th), Munich (9th) and Oslo (10th).

Stockholm, Barcelona, Milan, Amsterdam and Helsinki all snuck into the top 20.