Things to do

As its name suggests, the Eternal City could take a lifetime to explore – but 2025 is an especially exciting time to visit. In preparation for the Jubilee, Rome has undergone a sweeping restoration effort, with hundreds of monuments, fountains and churches getting a fresh glow. But it’s not just the city’s historic landmarks getting a refresh: Rome is always evolving. New boutique hotels and concept restaurants are popping up alongside centuries-old trattorias and artisan studios, adding a fresh edge to the timeless capital. Whether you’re here for food, faith or just to soak in the city’s beguiling charm, 2025 is set to be an unforgettable year to visit. How long do I need in Rome? Even I know that we don’t all have a lifetime to spare, so the good news is that three days in the Eternal City is an ideal amount of time for a dolce vita escape with all the big hitters. If possible, plan to come on a Saturday, the one day a week when the private residence of Galleria Colonna opens to the public. But whenever you get to visit this city, trust us, it’s as brilliant as they say it is. Here are the best things to do in Rome.  RECOMMENDED:🏛️ Unmissable attractions in Rome🍝 The best restaurants in Rome🛍️ Where to go shopping in Rome🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Rome🏨 The best hotels in Rome Natalie Aldern and Livia Hengel are writers based in Rome. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

This London bucket list (curated by our editors and always hotly debated in the Time Out office) is a good place to start because exploring this city can be a little daunting. There truly is something for everyone here. And if you want to know what’s happening in London, like, right now, check out things to do in London this week and things to do in London this weekend. After a few days pottering about in the capital, you’ll be more than ready to reel off Dr Samuel Johnson’s famous quote: ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Start planning a great autumn with our roundups of the best things to do in September and October This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

You’ve seen it in countless films, you’ve read about it in 100 books – even if you’re planning your first visit, you’ve probably got a clear idea of Paris. But here’s the thing: in real life, the City of Light exceeds all expectations. The attractions really are that beautiful, the restaurants really are that good, and the art really is that impressive. And our editors are out there all day every day, experiencing it all. That’s how we bring you this list of the best things to do in Paris – every spot you’ll find here is tried, tested and tried again. How long should I spend in Paris? Four days (or a long weekend) will give you an excellent taste of Paris. But you can just as well speed through a few top attractions in a fun-packed 24 hours, or slow down for a food-fuelled two-week break, and still leave feeling like there’s more to be discovered. However long you spend in the city, just make sure to balance the iconic sites with some of the lesser-known spots we’ve highlighted below – Paris wouldn’t be Paris without that blend of both that gives it a certain je ne sais quoi. 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to what to do in Paris🏘️ Ready to book? Here’s where to stay in Paris and the best hotels Rémi Morvan is a journalist at Time Out Paris. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

There’s plenty to see and do year-round: here are its best things to do in Amsterdam, whenever you’re visiting.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to what to do in Amsterdam What shouldn’t I miss in Amsterdam? You could stay here a week and not have time to see all the main attractions. But no visit should be without a canal cruise – it’s the best way to see the city and provides a unique perspective of the UNESCO World Heritage canal ring. Don’t miss the Rijksmuseum, truly one of the world’s great art institutions. And while exploring The Nine Streets or Albert Cuypmarkt can be exhilarating, escape the bustle – and rampant capitalism – at Vondelpark, and just breathe (or cycle around) for an afternoon. It’s an altogether more relaxing side of the city. How long should I spend in Amsterdam? While I’m biased, and think you could spend years meandering Amsterdam’s winding streets, you actually only need about three days to see the lion’s share of the city. That gives you enough time to take in the best sights, have a genever or two, and, yes, do some serious walking.  🏠 Ready to book? Here’s where to stay in Amsterdam and its best hotels Callum Booth and Derek Robertson are writers based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Get ready to glide along the Danube, lay into a bowl of hearty goulash and take in some serious views from rooftop bars, chairlifts and great heights – Budapest awaits. This city is steeped in history, blessed with spa waters and embellished with grandiose façades from the Habsburg days, with plenty of new openings to get stuck into too. From attractions to nightlife, here’s our local’s guide to the city.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to what to do in Budapest Is Budapest expensive? In a word, no. Budapest is no longer a cheap date but the weak local forint means your meal or night out is still affordable. Yes, that soak in the Széchenyi costs more than €30, but a tram ride is just over €1, a cinema ticket barely €5 and a beer €3 – if reclaiming the deposit on your glass. It might not be one of Europe’s cheapest city breaks, but it’s definitely good for a budget trip.  How to have the perfect day in Budapest The perfect day in Budapest always begins with coffee, ideally with an extravagant cake at the ornate Művész near the Opera. From here, you can stroll, cycle or take Continental Europe’s oldest metro along elegant boulevard Andrássy út to the City Park, where the House of Hungarian Music or the Széchenyi Baths await. A late lunch at culinary landmark Gundel shouldn’t break the bank nor evening drinks at the panoramic 360 Bar as the sun sinks over Europe’s most beautiful metropolis. 🏨 Ready to book? Here are Budapest’s best hotels and best Airbnbs, selected by our editors Words by Peterjon Cresswell, original photos by Gábor Szabó, both based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Such is the Portuguese capital’s draw, that I’d be willing to bet you’ve either visited Lisbon in recent years, or you’ve got it right at the top of your travel wishlist. After all, the food is spectacular, the nightlife is electric, and the views across the city from its many viewpoints are breathtaking. Happily, there’s still places to discover that are a little further off the tourist trail, from dining at a restaurant that doubles as a laundrette to taking a tour of a cemetery. How do we know? Because our team of local editors is out and about in this city, day in, day out, searching for the best Lisbon has to offer, from famed museums, to secret bars. How many days should I spend in Lisbon? You could zip through the city’s main attractions in just 48 hours, but Lisbon is best enjoyed at a more leisurely pace, allowing you to stop and smell the jacarandas that bloom in spring, or linger with a glass of wine long after you’ve watched the sunset from one of the rooftop bars. For this, we’d recommend a three night, four day stay. Looking for a longer holiday? It would be near criminal to visit Lisbon in summer without a day trip to the nearby beaches. Visiting in autumn? How about combining your visit to Lisbon with a trip to Porto (less than three hours away via high-speed rail), a city whose many parks look particularly spectacular when the leaves begin to change. 🏠 RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Lisbon  This guide is by the editorial team at Time Out Lisbon, and Lisbon-based travel writer Lucy Bryson. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Milan might not be as visually stunning as other Italian cities, but it has a quiet, elegant allure. You’ll see it in the hidden courtyards of its early 20th century buildings; the stylish shops that dot the city; the sophisticated architecture of its prettiest neighbourhoods; the slow pace of its old-fashioned streetcars. Italy’s most European city, Milan is a little secretive, very cool, and a joy to discover. Trust me on that one. Here are its best things to do. –Marianna Cerini  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to what to do in Milan How expensive is Milan?  The short answer? Pretty expensive. Over the last few years prices have increased everywhere in the city (and not just food, the real estate market has skyrocketed too), almost reaching London or Paris levels – but not quite. In short, a glass of wine might set you back €10, and a meal for two in a good restaurant can easily cost €40-50 per person with drinks. Entrances to museums aren’t cheap either: expect to spend around €20 for most tickets. Luckily, there are still plenty of places charging €5-7 for a wine or a Spritz, and you’ll always have the humble espresso, which remains cheap across Milan.  🏨 Ready to book? Check out our full guide to Milan hotels, Airbnbs and more Marianna Cerini is a writer based in Milan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

There’s its small size, making it extremely walkable (provided you aren’t afraid of some rain and the occasional hill), and there’s its rich and well-preserved history, meaning parts of the city feel otherworldly, even to someone who calls it home. Growing up I would wander the botanic gardens feeding bread to the squirrels, and now I stroll the cobbled streets via wine bars, restaurants and – depending on the time of night – chippies. Ready to walk, drink, dance and all the rest of it? Get your waterproof on and explore.’ 📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to what to do in Edinburgh ✈️ The best weekend breaks from London What free things are there to do in Edinburgh? Plenty. A number of our top museums have free entry year-round, including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery, the Portrait Gallery and the Modern. But it’s not just galleries – some of Edinburgh’s most photogenic sites can be seen free of charge: stroll through the historic Dean Village along the Water of Leith walkway, totter down the cobbles of picture-perfect Victoria Street and take in the view of the city after clambering to the top of Arthur’s Seat. And there’s more: check out our guide to the best free things to do in Edinburgh.  🏨 Ready to book? Here’s our guide to where to stay in Edinburgh, and its very best hotels This guide was recently updated by Hayley Scott, a writer from Edinburgh. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

One moment you’re squinting up at the Brandenberg Gate, the next you’re swaying with strangers under the strobes of a club dance floor. She might be a tough one to crack at first, but with a bit of insider knowledge, this city will embrace you with open arms. What can’t I miss in Berlin as a first timer? Kick off with a currywurst – Curry 36 in Mehringdamm is probably the most famous, serving both classic and vegan versions (size depending on how wild your night was). Then get your bearings fast on the city’s history with a Cold War or WWII walking tour. When the sun’s out, do as the locals do: sprawl on the grass in Tiergarten, with an optional pint from the leafy Biergarten. East-side? Volkspark Friedrichshain or Treptower Park are closer. 📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to things to do in Berlin  Can you do Berlin in three days? As always, more time = more fun, but 72 hours is enough to hit the major sights and stumble upon a few surprises. Just do a bit of brushing up on the city’s transport beforehand: this is a big old place, but the U-Bahn is your friend. So plan a few ‘must-dos,’ (your East Side Gallery visits, your späti drinks and your sunny Mauerpark hangs), but here’s my advice: in Berlin, always leave room for the unexpected. In my opinion, the more days you’ve got to explore this brilliant city, the better.  This guide was updated by Berlin-based writer Kate Bettes. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Everyone should visit Barcelona at least once. Everyone. No excuses. The Catalan capital is a bustling city that lives up to its reputation, a thriving cultural centre with brilliant museums, magnificent restaurants and a club scene that goes all night long. Barcelona is brilliant, bombastic, and bloomin’ marvellous. But what are the best things to do while you’re here? We’re glad you asked. We’ve done the hard yards and put together the ultimate Barna bucket list – which includes, of course, our very own Time Out Market Barcelona, showcasing the city’s best chefs, restaurants and bars. You can’t go wrong with this place. Here are the best things to do in Barcelona right now. 🏨 The very best hotels to book in Barcelona How we curate our lists  Headed up by editor Maria Jose Gomez, the team over at Time Out Barcelona spend their days sampling the best things to do on offer in this marvellous city, from brand-new restaurants to cutting-edge exhibitions and all-time attractions. Everything on this list has been reviewed and selected for a reason: we’ve been there (sometimes twice), we think it’s great and we’d genuinely recommend it. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. By the way, this article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 🍴 Everything you need to know about Time Out Market Barcelona📍 Ultimate guide to visiting Barcelona

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