JULY 2020, UPDATED 2026

For this blog I made a list of the most beautiful historic city centers in the world. I love visiting places that feel like a different era. That feeling like you are walking in an open-air museum, but people actually live there. I am very lucky to live in Europe, as historic places usually are perfectly preserved in Europe (with special thanks to UNESCO world heritage).

Rome – Italy

The undisputed number-one on this list: Rome! The city center of Rome is full of buildings that were created in a different era, when you are visiting the area surrounding the Colloseo you will be in constant awe if you have a thing with old buildings and architecture. One of the most important reasons that I kept up Latin in high school was that it earned you a seat on the annual trip to Rome, something I absolutely did not want to miss out on. I have now been to Rome four times and hope to visit again in the future!

Matera – Italy

Matera is only recently discovered as a tourist must-visit, as it underwent some restructurings after being named the cultural capital of Europe in 2019. It is worth it to visit Matera as soon as possible, especially as it is slowly getting popular. I felt like I walked into the Middle Ages due to the muted colors of the town. What makes this place extra special is that it has many cave hotels and restaurants and that Matera is one of the foodie regions of Italy.

Dubrovnik – Croatia

Dubrovnik was heavily damaged by the Yuguslavian war in 1991 and 1992, but luckily has been beautifully restored when the war ended. One of the highlights of Dubrovnik is a walk on the old city walls and a drink at one of the Buza bars. Dubrovnik sometimes gets a bad rep, as it can become very crowded due to cruise boats, but I discovered that this actually isn’t too bad once you stay close to the city center. This gives you the opportunity to walk through the narrow alleyways before the cruiseboats arrive. When it gets crowded in the afternoon you can go to one of the beach bars nearby and enjoy the deep blue Adriatic sea with Dubrovnik as a beautiful backdrop.

Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent – Belgium

Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent are my favorite Belgian cities, as they have beautiful squares with historic buildings. I find these cities a good location to visit year-round, but I would recommend to visit especially around Christmas time as the cities light up in a very charming way. Antwerp is only an hour ride away from my hometown, but I love entering a different world even if it is just for a day trip.

Amsterdam – the Netherlands

Of course the capital of my country cannot be missed on this list. There isn’t a bad season to visit Amsterdam, I love visiting a few times a year to enjoy the season changes with the cinematic backdrop of the canals. I particularly love the area surrounding the Negen Straatjes, but I would recommend to visit during a weekday as it can be difficult to find a good lunchspot in the weekend.

Cartagena – Colombia

I have an enormous love for colonial cities, and Cartagena is besides very colorful, the perfect colonial city. In Central and South America you can find many beautiful, colorful cities, but Cartagena has to be my favorite. Hielke gifted me a four night stay in a boutique colonial hotel, with a jacuzzi on a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. The employees treated us like we were royalty, which gave us the impression that we actually went back in time.

The Cotswolds – England

The Cotswolds technically is not a city, but a region with beautiful villages. I felt like I was walking in a fairytale with all the cute hobbit-styles houses. The perfectly named Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold and Castle Combe were some of my favorites on this trip. If you are a fan of Jane Austen books, like me, the Cotswolds are a must visit. Besides the cute villages you can visit all sorts of historic mansions with quintessential English gardens.

Provence – France

The Provence is another region, where it feels like time had stood still. In 2019 I visited Moustiers-Saint-Marie and Chateauneuf-du-Pape and besides having romantic names they also had beautiful historic city centers. The colors in this area have something so romantic, as if you are seeing everything through a Sepia colored lens.

Kyoto – Japan

While most of Japan looks like a futuristic movie, in Kyoto all traditions and ryokan-style houses have been preserved. In Gion, you can still spot geishas walking around, adding a level of mystery to the historic buildings. We were so inspired by this region, that I now have a walk-in closet in the style of a Ryokan, which brings back good memories every time I change clothes.

Havana – Cuba

One of the largest open air museums in the world: Cuba! Havana is the cherry on top when it comes to historical city centers. Hielke had already visited Cuba ten years earlier and luckily not too much had changed. The colorful, old cars on the street make the street views even better!

Split – Croatia

Split has one of the best preserved historical city centers in the world. The Roman Diocletian Palace takes up half of Split’s city center, and features a historic cathedral, arched ports of entry, ruins and cellars. Most of it is free to visit, make sure to get up early to have it to yourself. The plaza de la Republica feels like you are in Cuba. You can find all my Split recommendations here.

Ragusa – Italy

It is no surprise that Italy is featured multiple times on this list. However this recommendation is slightly more off the beaten path, and you have to travel to Sicily to get here. It definitely has not yet been discovered by the crowds, making a visit very pleasant. We spent 3 lovely days here, which you can read about in this blogpost.

Bamberg – Germany

I recently visited Bamberg in Germany, a charming city with beautiful fachwerk houses. While everyone in Germany seems to know about its charm, it is not frequented by foreigners. So if you are looking for an authentic German experience, it is a very good option. Germany is often overlooked when it comes to historic city centers. Most of the old villages have come out of the war relatively well and feature a lovely altstadt. I have loads of recommendations for these villages which you can find here.

Bergen – Norway

The style of Bergen is definitely very different to my other recommendations, but still it has a beautiful old city center. Bryggen features old wooden warehouses, but don’t forget to explore the less touristy neighborhoods, which are filled with painted wooden houses with little facade gardens. I found some real hidden gems, which you can find here.

Strasbourg – France

A region in France that has the most beautiful historic city centers is the Alsace. I loved exploring the old streets of Strasbourg, but another great recommendation is Colmar. For extra magic, try to visit during Christmas, when everything is fully decked out. Whenever we are in the area, we always try to make a short visit.