Summary

• experience is great, Lisbon takes it to a whole new level. There's something truly mesmerizing about this city - the colorful streets, the historical architecture, the lively atmosphere. And when it comes to celebrating your birthday, Lisbon has got you covered. The nightlife here is buzzing, with a variety of bars, clubs, and music venues to choose from. Plus, the city is known for its excellent public transport system, making it easy to navigate and explore. So, if you're looking for a birthday trip that is both beautiful and unforgettable, Lisbon should be at the top of your list.

People celebrate their birthdays in many different ways. Some like to go out partying whilst others simply enjoy the company of their friends and loved ones - but more often than not, one of the most popular things to do is go on holiday. It doesn't always need to be somewhere overly extravagant, but for the most part, it's somewhere that you've desired to visit for quite some time. This tends to be more of a regular practice for people that are in and around Europe, and that's not exactly a bad thing or a hash stereotype. Every single city across the continent is special in some way, shape, or form, although there is a handful that stands out above the rest in terms of a birthday/holiday destination.

By no means are we calling the ten 'boring' cities bad in general, but for one reason or another, it just doesn't feel like they belong in the 'best' category that we've listed, but as we've said before in the past, this is purely an opinion - and you may have had different experiences one way or another. It's all about your own personal preference, and we can respect that. But overall, a birthday is a special time, and it deserves to be celebrated properly. Here are some of the best birthday trip ideas Europe has to offer, along with some that may not be ideal for partying.

UPDATE: 2023/08/03 16:48 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Dublin, Ireland, Anyone?

This article has been refreshed with new information for European birthday goers, as well as a new city to celebrate: Dublin! Whether someone wants to celebrate for a week straight or wants something fast and memorable, Europe is home to some of the greatest cities on Earth. Have fun, and don't forget to save us a slice of cake!

26 Dublin - Fun, Beer, And Plenty Of Laughs (Celebrate!)

• The Irish are very kind, humorous, and welcoming.
• Dublin has a great beer scene and amazing restaurants/pubs.

One of the more lively places in Europe is Dublin, Ireland. Historically, Ireland has endured much suffering, leading to its people being tight-knit and incredibly strong. Even with this being the case, Ireland consistently is ranked highly for friendliness and goodwill towards travelers. Especially for a birthday here, someone can stay in the city and do a bar crawl in town. Dublin has many clubs, concerts, and events throughout the year, making it a great party destination. There's something magical in the water here, as Dublin is truly a gem within the European Union.

Pricing is also pretty good here for hotels, food, and airfare, so that can help with groups.

25 Ibiza - Colorful Clubbing All Night Long (Celebrate!)

• Ibiza is one of the hottest destinations for partying in Europe.
• Many celebrities from across the world come here.

More of an entire island than a city to enjoy, this booming party hub in Spain is the clubbing capital of the world. Birthday boys and girls looking for the party of a lifetime involving flashing lights, loud music, awesome food, and non-stop shots will be in their element amidst this world-famous island's incredible party scene - one that has drawn some of the biggest names in the world to let down their hair and dance all night long.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber, Paris Hilton, and so many more notorious party lovers have all gone wild in Ibiza, which attracts the most discerning partiers from all corners of the planet. There is no lack of bars and clubs for partying like a rock star 'til the sun comes up, with legendary long-term venues including the iconic Pacha and the amazing Amnesia, the latter with a whopping 5,000-person capacity.

24 Dubrovnik - A Party By The Sea (Celebrate!)

• Dubrovnik has been featured in many TV shows and movies.
• There are many places to eat and party here.

Forget Game Of Thrones, Dubrovnik in Croatia is growing in fame for its awesome party culture in lieu of being the filming location for the fictional show "King's Landing." It's no secret that Croatians know how to throw a good celebration, and that's made all the more sublime with the idyllic sea right next to this stunning city's old-world center.

Travelers can spend the whole day waltzing through the historic streets, tanning on the beach, and swimming in the pure blue ocean, and follow a perfect daytime with a heart-pumping night cruising the city's beachside bars and clubs. With great music and booze flowing throughout the day and night, Dubrovnik has a variety of superb venues - both small and large - perfect for all kinds of party-goer. From the well-established beachside Buža Bar with its incredible views and the Culture Club Revelin - said to be one of the world's best clubs - to the renowned Cave Bar, literally tucked inside a cave, there's so much going on in this sensational Croatian city by the sea.

23 Stockholm - House DJs And Epic City Clubs (Celebrate!)

• This is often considered the DJ capital of the world.
• Artists like Avicii and Steve Angello are from here and perform often.

Sweden is the home of world-renowned house DJs such as Avicii and Steve Angello. Thus, it only makes sense that the country's capital hosts some of Europe's most roof-raising parties. Stockholm’s nightlife scene does sometimes finish up somewhat earlier than the likes of London or Ibiza. However, that never stops the crowd from continuing the party for some of the best all-nighters on the continent.

There's a wealth of amazing venues to visit in this lively city, with some of the most popular and famous being Fasching for its sensational live music and Slakthuset pumping EDM beats. What's more, partiers who descend to Stockholm in summer can experience dancing on rooftop terraces that open up thanks to the lovely long daylight hours and inviting temperatures.

22 Manchester - Ticks All The Boxes (Celebrate!)

• Manchester Arena hosts endless concerts throughout the year.
• The city is very inclusive to all types of travelers.

It doesn't matter what your preference is regarding how you like to celebrate your birthday because Manchester has everything you could possibly hope for. It's like a condensed version of London, only with much cheaper prices, even better music, and much friendlier people.

From the house parties in Fallowfield to the Northern Quarter, you won't be short on things to do, and whilst New York City is often described as the city that never sleeps, we're fairly confident that they stole that title from the Mancs - and if you don't believe us, then go and experience it for yourself ASAP.

Related: Looking For A Dance Party? Hit Up These 10 Cities First

21 Brussels - Politics And Overpriced Chocolate (Eh, kinda boring)

• Brussels, although historic, has been known to be boring for partiers.
• The locals have a more serious tone.

Belgium, as a country, is great - and in many ways, Brussels is a very important city, too. Unfortunately, it doesn't really have the aura of somewhere that you'd go to on your birthday, mainly because everything feels a little bit more serious than you'd probably like. You could still have a pretty fun time, but the prices aren't great, the atmosphere tends to be a little bit overbearing in terms of how 'serious' the locals are, and it feels like it's almost been a bit worn down courtesy of, ironically enough, all the travelers. With that in mind, though, this is probably the one entry that we looked at and thought, 'Perhaps we can be swayed.'

20 Berlin - The Big Time (Celebrate!)

• Berlin has one of the more lively night scenes.
• Clubs in Berlin are very fun, and there are many options.

Germany is a sensational country, if only due to the fact that they've been able to bounce back from great adversity on several occasions throughout the course of history. As well as that, though, the nation also plays host to some incredible cities - and Berlin is one of the big ones.

We don't mean that figuratively, either; we mean that quite literally. Berlin is one of the biggest cities in Europe in terms of actual size, and because of that, it has many faces. There's the fun side, the business side, the indie side, and the cultural side, with many more awaiting you as you go on your birthday adventure.

19 Oslo - Painfully Overrated (Eh, kinda boring)

• Oslo is more quiet and reserved, with museums and art over places to party.
• The city is very expensive, often more than others in Scandinavia.

If you're going to charge an arm and a leg for pretty much everything from food to travel, you'd better be the greatest city on Earth: but Oslo doesn't quite fulfill that prophecy. It's gorgeous in parts, and it's quite fun to walk around, but even celebrities will be walking around worrying about whether they can afford something that they'd like to do, eat or drink. When you're on holiday, especially for your birthday, you should be busy having a good time as opposed to panicking about how much you've been budgeting. If you want to travel to Scandinavia, there are a series of alternatives you could look towards.

Prices in Oslo are incredibly high, with most restaurants and hotels being premium throughout the year. Even attractions in Oslo, Norway, cost a lot, so it might not be great for group celebrations on a budget.

18 Lisbon - Utterly Beautiful (Celebrate!)

• Lisbon is a tourist hub, boasting great public transport.
• The nightlife here is the best in Portugal.

There are about a million different reasons why the Portuguese experience such a boom in tourism every single summer, with the weather being one of them - but while the actual holiday resorts may be incredibly popular, Lisbon is on a whole other level. The food alone is worth treating yourself on your birthday trip, and it's legitimately crazy to think that the locals get to experience the city on a day-to-day basis. It combines the hustle and bustle of city life with fantastic beaches and outstanding visuals, and that equates to a very good time in our book.

17 Frankfurt - Sausages? That's It? (Eh, kinda boring)

• Frankfurt is more historical than exciting.
• The city is known to be on the serious side.

Most German cities tend to follow a similar pattern in terms of how aesthetically pleasing they are to look at, how much they've got to offer, and how much time travelers usually spend there. Frankfurt, however, doesn't really fit into that category all too well. Aside from the obvious appeal of sausages, Frankfurt is much more centered around the business side of things in the grand scheme of European culture. That isn't a bad thing necessarily, as it means there are plenty of job opportunities for locals and foreigners alike, but it doesn't make it seem like a place that's all too appealing at first glance.

16 Amsterdam - Oh So Notorious (Celebrate!)

• Amsterdam is incredibly progressive, with weed and brothels in certain areas.
• This city is easy to get around via bike, which makes commuting more fun.

Everyone reading this has some kind of idea of what they're likely to expect if they ever travel to Amsterdam, and some people have probably already been - but there's a bigger story behind the 'mask' of the Netherlands' most popular location.

Reputations can be great or bad depending on which side of the story you're hearing, and Amsterdam has suffered greatly in the last few years - even though there's so much more to it than meets the eye. It doesn't even necessarily feel like a city as much as it does a town because it's such a 'together' community with many locals mixing brilliantly with tourists to make for one of the best atmospheres we've ever experienced.

Related: 10 Places To Stay In Amsterdam For First Timers

15 Paris - Get The Cheque Book Out (Eh, kinda boring)

• Paris is very up-scale and doesn't offer many "birthday party" attractions.
• Pricing in Paris will be high, with hotels and dining being at a premium.

Despite all the negative connotations you read about Paris, we're actually going to stick up for it here because it's a city full of life and culture that deserves more than one visit in a lifetime. Alas, that visit should probably come on Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve as opposed to a birthday - if you're doing it on a big occasion, that is. You want to be made to feel special on your birthday, and Paris isn't a city that's likely to accommodate that in comparison to some of the other cities that we've listed. Again, if you look hard enough, then you'll find a good time, but things are a bit too 'busy' there.

Although the City of Lights is worth seeing, we're not sure if it's perfect for a birthday celebration. Instead, this is a great place to honeymoon: so hello, newlyweds!

14 Kraków - One Of Poland's Crown Jewels (Celebrate!)

• This is a smaller European city, but it still offers much for birthday goers.
• Poland can be on the more somber side, so that's one thing to consider.

Whilst the Christmas markets should be enough to convince you that Kraków is a darn good place to visit, we understand that not everyone is going to be visiting at that time of year. So then, why not head to Wawel Castle, the main square, the salt mine, or maybe just take in some of their fantastic delicacies? It's probably a little bit boring at this point to hear about just how fantastic Poland is as a nation, but we can't help it - because it really does need to be seen in order to be believed. It's somewhere that, even though it's incredibly accessible, feels like an honor to visit, and Kraków embodies that perfectly.

13 Milan - Fashion, Fashion, Fashion (Eh, kinda boring)

• Milan is better-suited for those wanting to see haute couture.
• The city has nice food and hotels but doesn't scream birthday.

For those who have the perception of us enjoying 'slamming' Milan, that certainly isn't the case. It'd be great if every single town, city, or country we went to was great fun, but unfortunately, that isn't the case with traveling, and it allows for more diverse opinions. Milan is viewed as one of the fashion capitals of the world, but that isn't always something that's going to appeal to everyone. In fact, you could argue that it only really appeals to a very specific kind of traveler. If that's your kind of thing, then great, but this city isn't an accurate representation of what Italy can provide.

12 Barcelona - Glorious Espana (Celebrate!)

• Barcelona is very fun and welcoming to vacationers.
• The Spanish charm mixed with global influences is notable.

Barcelona has all of the positives of a business-orientated city whilst also possessing a certain spirit that you just don't see throughout most other places in the world. It captures that Spanish charm like no other city in the country can, and believe us when we say that it's incredibly vibrant. If a stadium tour of the remarkable Nou Camp isn't your cup of tea, then we can all but guarantee that heading down Las Ramblas will provide you with the energy, food, and culture that you'd have been looking for. Oh, and it's one of the few cities whereby the bus tour is very, very worth it.

11 Vienna - Beautiful, But Not Overly Fun (Eh, kinda boring)

• Vienna is often described as "harsh" by people who come here.
• This might be another instance where the city is best for newlyweds/honeymooners.

It feels a little bit 'harsh,' if you will, to throw Vienna under the bus, so to speak, but don't get this confused: it is a really entertaining city - but it all depends on what you're looking for. If you're going there with your girlfriend or boyfriend, then you're bound to have a romantic journey together, but that's about it. Even if you're looking for places to eat at night, you may struggle, especially if you're there on a weekday. Vienna is gorgeous, but if we're being honest with ourselves, this is the first real city that comes to mind when we think about the term 'boring.'

Even though Vienna is a world-class destination, it is often considered cold toward celebrations. Deep history and cultural values make this more of a peaceful place to head to rather than something wild and fun: so keep that in mind.

10 Riga - The Unknown Entity (Celebrate!)

• Riga is one of the "unknown" European cities where celebrating a bday can be fun.
• The hotels and attractions are affordable.

Unknown cities, especially across Europe, are always cause for speculation. You're never quite sure whether they're going to be incredibly underrated or a little bit risky to visit, but with Riga, all the boxes are ticked from our side of things. It's visually stunning, everything is cheap, the locals are friendly, and it's a great place to escape to, if only for 48 hours or less. It's difficult to overstay your welcome in Riga, and at the same time, it's very, very hard not to find a way to have a good time. Don't delay; book your trip there today.

9 Basel - Not Switzerland's Finest (Eh, kinda boring)

• Switzerland is not very party-friendly, and the people here are quieter.
• The city is a financial hub, with many of the visitors and residents being mega-rich.

Switzerland is a very beautiful country and, like many others around it, there are a few different 'faces' of it, if you will. There are certain places that you identify with, whether it be because of skiing or just because of just how much of a financial hub the nation is. Basel, though, doesn't really fall into any of those categories, and it just feels a little bit built up. You don't even really have the luxury of everywhere being cheap either, because as we all know, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world - and that's not just a stereotype.

8 Budapest - The Indie Pick (Celebrate!)

• Budapest is very vibrant and filled with culture.
• There are opportunities to chill out and get the party started downtown and beyond.

Budapest is a city that's thrown out there quite a lot when the discussion is brought up regarding great European destinations, and there is a handful of reasons for that. You can have a chilled-out time in the many spas, go ice skating by the river, or even just take in some of the beautiful architecture. Or alternatively, you could head on down to the Jewish Quarter before exploring some of the many great restaurants and bars on offer. Hungary isn't a country that has all too many major cities and attractions, but Budapest certainly knows how to represent it.

Related: 10 Great Reasons To Visit Budapest, Hungary

7 Moscow - Too Many Questions (Eh, kinda boring)

• Moscow (and Russia in general) isn't very fun or welcoming to foreigners.
• With current tensions, it may also be unsafe to come here for a celebration.

Look, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia exemplified why the nation doesn't really deserve the harsh reputation that it gets most of the time. With that being said, it's not like we aren't still going to be slightly trepidatious over the possibility of visiting. That sounds harsh, but it's the truth for many.

Beyond that, though, it just doesn't seem like a place that screams 'birthday trip.' Perhaps if you were going for business or something along those lines, then it'd be more suitable, but you're going to want an adventure on your birthday, and Moscow won't really provide you with that.