What makes a city particularly suited to ‘youth travel‘? Often nothing at all – a beautiful cathedral, fantastic cuisine or a sandy beach can be enjoyed whatever your age. Many articles like this one are simply ‘best cities in Europe’ lists, with a nod to ‘young people would like this’. But cities your parents would like are not the same as those that appeal to your child making their first visit to Europe.

Virtually every destination on this list is cheap and well-connected, with a mixture of culture and the kinds of activities young people are interested in: a vibrant social scene, an accessible food and drink culture and enough activities to keep you busy for a few days.

See also: Top European Cities from the Cheapest to the Most Expensive

01 of 10

Berlin, Germany

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The youth capital of Europe. Fantastic nightclubs, a liberal policy on drinking alcohol in public (it’s totally allowed) and so much green space. And it’s a very cheap city to spend time in.

Could any other city have topped this list?

02 of 10

Brussels, Belgium

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Chocolate and beer, chocolate and beer, chocolate and beer. Learn what’s wrong with Bud Light and ​Hershey’s before it’s too late.

03 of 10

Amsterdam, Netherlands

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The land of sex and drugs: done the European way. Buy cannabis from an actual menu and peek at the legally regulated red-light district. Nowhere are you safer doing the things you probably shouldn’t.

04 of 10

Salamanca, Spain

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One of the oldest university cities in Europe and a popular destination for European Erasmus and American Study Abroad exchange students, this is a vibrant place to learn Spanish. Also close to Madrid, the Spanish capital.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.

05 of 10

Budapest, Hungary

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Budapest is famous for its ruin pubs (bars that have been set up in dilapidated old buildings) and the Sziget music festival, a week of music and performances on an island in the Danube. Budapest also has one of the best craft beer scenes in Europe.

06 of 10

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

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A once-abandoned town that got cleaned up in time for the party buses that now tour Eastern Europe. Enjoy water sports on the river and cheap Czech pilsners, set against the beautiful UNESCO-protected architecture of the old town.

07 of 10

Reykjavik, Iceland

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The capital of Iceland actually goes against the criteria I used at the start of this article – it is expensive and in the middle of nowhere (though Icelandic budget airline WOW air allows for great stopovers on the way from New York and Boston to Europe).

The home of Icelandic superstars Sigur Ros and Björk and the setting for a lot of HBO’s Game of Thrones, is anywhere hipper than Reykjavik? 

08 of 10

Lisbon, Portugal

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The cheapest capital city in Western Europe had to appear on this list. Lisbon has a strong influence from its Brazilian expat community, which means you won’t get a better – or cheaper – caipirinha anywhere in Europe.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.

09 of 10

Tarifa, Spain

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The most southerly point in Spain, Tarifa is great for water sports, whale watching and for crossing the narrow Strait of Gibraltar to visit Morocco.

10 of 10

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Another city on the Eastern Europe party circuit, Dubrovnik is well connected to the Croatian coastline and to the historic Bosnian cities of Sarajevo and Mostar. Also a filming location for many scenes in Game of Thrones.

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