Europe’s 20 richest cities in culture named, Budapest to be proud of

We can be proud of Budapest again, as the Hungarian capital has been named one of the best cultural cities in Europe.

Europe’s rich history, diverse heritage and vibrant artistic scene have always been a treasure trove of cultural wonders. From ancient architectural marvels to modern art centres, the continent boasts a wealth of cultural hotspots that never fail to capture the hearts and minds of travellers, writes Helló Magyar.

Founded in 2012 in the UK and Ireland, weloveholidays is the fastest-growing online travel company and is already fully operational in Germany. The company has published new data for those looking to explore new cultures.

Their travel experts analysed a number of factors, including the number of museums, libraries, art galleries, theatres, opera houses and attractions. The resulting list includes 50 European cities.

Dr Jan Kuklinski, CEO of weloveholidays, said:

“For anyone who wants to explore new cultures, spend time in an art gallery or listen to opera, our index provides great insights into places that are ready to be discovered.”

TOP 5

Unsurprisingly, London has the most museums (195) and art galleries (258), making it the centre of England’s cultural capital of Europe. London is home to iconic places such as the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Jack the Ripper Museum and the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Paris, the pride of France, came second. The city of love is home to a total of 1,000 sights, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Paris is also home to the second largest number of theatres in Europe, with 152 in total, perhaps the most famous being the legendary Moulin Rouge.

In third place is the city of Rome, which has the most libraries on the continent (81), some of which are tourist attractions in their own right. The Angelica library, for example, houses a whole range of Italian theatrical and literary works from the 15th to 18th centuries.

Germany’s capital is the fourth city with the second most museums in Europe, with 140 museums – the Topographical Museum and the GDR Museum are just two must-visits if you want to learn more about Berlin’s history. The open-air East Side Gallery is perhaps the best-known of the city’s 104 galleries.

The fifth top cultural holiday destination is Milan, Italy. With four opera houses, it is the second most visited in Europe. A city with a passion for art and fashion also has the second most libraries, with 54.

Budapest

The Hungarian capital came in 15th place, with 165 places to visit and 40 theatres. Museum-lovers will certainly want to visit Budapest’s new museums: the Ethnographic Museum and the House of Hungarian Music in Városliget are a special experience, but Madame Tussauds, which opened a month ago, is also interesting with its international and Hungarian historical figures.

TOP 15

Ranking	City	Country	Museums	Libraries	Art Galleries	Theatres	Landmarks	Opera Houses	Total Score*
1	London	UK	19	27	258	214	469	3	4.30
2	Paris	France	85	50	204	152	1000	4	4.21
3	Rome	Italy	38	81	88	72	466	3	2.81
4	Berlin	Germany	140	3	104	84	262	3	2.78
5	Milan	Italy	32	54	119	53	49	4	2.63
6	Prague	Czech Republic	36	12	252	110	208	3	2.52
7	Vienna	Austria	93	2	48	52	145	6	2.04
8	Madrid	Spain	52	12	55	102	336	2	1.7
9	Istanbul	Türkiye	9	8	242	100	133	0	1.67
10	Barcelona	Spain	39	28	81	44	247	2	1.61
11	Amsterdam	Netherlands	58	7	120	54	281	1	1.52
12	Venice	Italy	0	33	135	17	194	2	1.51
13	Munich	Germany	55	4	24	25	118	4	1.29
14	Budapest	Hungary	42	2	52	40	165	3	1.26
15	Florence	Italy	0	23	56	17	136	3	1.18