• Intro
• 1. Antwerp
• 2. Barcelona
• 3. Berlin
• 4. Bologna
• 5. Budapest
• 6. Dublin
• 7. Lisbon
• 8. Ljubljana
• 9. Riga
• 10. Zagreb

Berlin

The Draw It ranks 45th out of 50 in Mercer Consulting’s 2007 survey, which measures costs in cities around the world (London is No. 2), guaranteeing that the dollar will go a long way. The city is known for its bustling energy, the ambitious work of the world’s best architects, a thriving art community, and a "we’re the coolest city in Europe" vibe.

Don’t Miss The vibrant scene in neighborhoods Mitte and Kreuzberg includes highlights like market-cum-restaurant WKD Lebensmittel (49/30-2759-6130) for its wines and chic crowd and Auguststrasse for galleries like Eigen + Art (eigen-art.com). Late night, everyone ends up along Oranienstrasse for live music, bars, and clubs.

When to Go April–October.

Where to Stay Hotel de Rome, a Rocco Forte property in a former bank, is a smart splurge. The location, off unter den Linden, is ideal; the rooms are spacious and the views are commanding (rooms from $512; hotelderome.com). Mitte’s stylish boutique property Lux 11 has in-room kitchenettes and space-maximizing design (junior suites from $193; lux-eleven.de).

Combine With A visit to Potsdam, the baroque town on the Havel river, to tour Frederick the Great’s castle, Sanssouci.

See Barcelona Travel Guide | See Antwerp Travel Guide | See Lisbon Travel GuideSee Zagreb Travel Guide