April 25, 2025, 12:43 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Europe is home to more than 40 countries, each with its own capital city, all uniquely different. But which one is considered the most beautiful by travelers? We aimed to find out through our extensive poll. The results are in, and there is a clear winner.
According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, there are a total of 47 recognized states in Europe. Almost each has its own capital, which often ranks among the most visited destinations in its respective country. But which capital can truly captivate its visitors with its appeal? We aimed to find out through a large survey.
To do this, we first asked our more than 200,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram which European capital they have enjoyed the most during their travels. From all the submissions, the editorial team selected the most frequently mentioned cities and added their own favorites. Ultimately, 14 cities from across the continent were available for voting. We wanted to know: Which of them most deserves the title of “Most Beautiful Capital in Europe”? Nearly 27,000 votes were cast, and the results are now in!
The most beautiful capital in Europe is …
… Rome! The Italian capital received an impressive 19 percent of all votes, surpassing Vienna, which came in second, by about 3 percent. In third place, with 13 percent of the votes, is Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
The rankings at a glance:
1. Rome, Italy
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Lisbon, Portugal
4. Paris, France
5. Prague, Czech Republic
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Copenhagen, Denmark
8. London, United Kingdom
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands
10. Tallinn, Estonia
11. Valletta, Malta
12. Madrid, Spain
13. Athens, Greece
14. Tbilisi, Georgia
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Some Countries Don’t Have a Capital at All
Did you know that Switzerland actually has no official capital? In 1848, Bern was chosen as the permanent federal seat—before that, the Council of States and the National Council rotated between different cities. While Bern may function as such in practice, to this day, no capital is designated for Switzerland in the Federal Constitution.
A capital is not necessarily required for a country. It is also possible for small countries to organize their political institutions in a decentralized manner. City-states with their own statehood and independent constitution (such as Monaco, Singapore, Vatican City) essentially serve as their own capital.