Europe is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, delicious food and rich history. The continent is a treasure trove for those searching for the finer things in life. From the bustling city streets of Paris to the dazzling shores of the Amalfi Coast, Europe has no shortage of high-end destinations that cater to the most sophisticated tastes.
With that being said, Iglu Cruise has revealed the best European destinations for a luxury break. The team looked at three different factors for each capital city in Europe:
- Number of Five-star Hotels
- Number of Michelin Star Restaurants
- Number of Luxury Activities
| Destination | Population | Number of Five-Star Hotels | Number of Michelin Star Restaurants | Number of Luxury Activities |
| Reykjavik, Iceland | 139,875 | 1 | 2 | 158 |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 567,131 | 52 | 17 | 505 |
| Athens, Greece | 643,452 | 34 | 12 | 574 |
| Rome, Italy | 2,860,009 | 94 | 20 | 913 |
| Paris, France | 2,102,650 | 119 | 132 | 455 |
| Bern, Switzerland | 133,883 | 2 | 14 | 26 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | 921,402 | 16 | 32 | 226 |
| Ljubljana, Slovenia | 295,504 | 3 | 2 | 62 |
| Prague, Czechia | 1,384,732 | 2 | 2 | 214 |
| Dublin, Ireland | 592,713 | 13 | 6 | 59 |
Credit: Iglu Cruise
The quantity for each was then weighted per 100,000 people for the population of each city. The score for each factor was then combined to give a total score. The following cities received the highest scores.
| Destination | Five-Star Hotels (Per 100,000 of the population) | Michelin Star Restaurants (Per 100,000 of the population) | Luxury Activities (Per 100,000 of the population) | Total Score |
| Reykjavik, Iceland | 0.7 | 1.4 | 113 | 115.1 |
| Lisbon, Portugal | 9.2 | 3 | 89 | 101.2 |
| Athens, Greece | 5.3 | 1.9 | 89.2 | 96.4 |
| Rome, Italy | 3.3 | 0.7 | 32 | 36.0 |
| Paris, France | 5.7 | 6.3 | 21.6 | 33.6 |
| Bern, Switzerland | 1.5 | 10.5 | 19.4 | 31.4 |
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | 1.7 | 3.5 | 24.5 | 29.7 |
| Ljubljana, Slovenia | 1 | 0.7 | 21 | 22.7 |
| Prague, Czechia | 0.1 | 0.1 | 15.5 | 15.7 |
| Dublin, Ireland | 2.2 | 1 | 10 | 13.2 |
Credit: Iglu Cruise
In first place, the best capital city in Europe for a luxury escape is Reykjavik, Iceland. The city scored highest for luxury activities per 100,000 population, totalling 113. Some luxury activities include a trip to the Blue Lagoon, a world-famous geothermal spa, and a private Northern Lights tour. The city scored a 1.4 for Michelin Star restaurants and 0.7 for five-star hotels, per 100,000 of the population.
In second place with a total score of 101.2 is Lisbon, Portugal. The Portuguese capital scored the highest out of any other capital cities in Europe for five-star hotels, with a score of 9.2. Lisbon also scored a 3 for Michelin Star restaurants and 89 for luxury activities. Activities in Lisbon include a sunset and wine-tasting tour, a private Tuk Tuk sightseeing tour and a cheese-tasting tour.
Next is Athens, Greece, which has a total score of 96.4. Athens scored highly for five-star hotels, with 5.3 per 100,000 of the population, and 1.3 for Michelin-star restaurants. Athens also had the second-highest score for luxury activities, behind Reykjavik, with a score of 89.2. Some activities include private tours to the Acropolis and Parthenon, Lake Vouliagmeni Thermal Spa and Athens food-tasting private tours.
Rome, Italy received a total score of 36, scoring 3.3 for five-star hotels, 0.7 for Michelin Star restaurants and 32 for luxury activities. Activities include an expert-guided tour of the Colosseum, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trips and a Vespa tour at night.
Paris, France scored highly for five-star hotels, 5.7, and Michelin Star restaurants, 6.3, per 100,000 of the population. The French capital also scored 21.6 for luxury activities, giving a total score of 33.6. Some luxury activities you can find in Paris include a gourmet dinner and sightseeing cruise on the River Seine and an exclusive guided tour of the Louvre Museum.
Bern, Switzerland received the highest score out of all European capitals for the number of Michelin Star restaurants per 100,000 of the population, with a score of 10.5. Some Michelin Star restaurants found in Bern include Casa Nova, where visitors can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine under chef Dirk Wagner. Bern scored 1.5 for five-star hotels and 19.4 for luxury activities, totalling 31.4.
The final capital cities included on the list of the best destinations in Europe for a luxury escape are Amsterdam, Ljubljana, Prague and Dublin.
Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Iglu Cruise said:
“Many travellers are looking for a luxury holiday, whether that be to celebrate a big birthday, an anniversary, an engagement, honeymoon or simply as a one-off treat. There are many parts of a luxury holiday that can make for an unforgettable trip, including fine dining, luxury accommodations or sightseeing opportunities, with destinations all over Europe offering some of the best luxury breaks in the world.
“Luxury cruising is also skyrocketing, with cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea offering luxury sailings all year round, to some of the most exclusive destinations in the world. If you’re looking to learn more about luxury cruising, get in touch with us to see how we can help.”