It comes as the annual report by Resonance Consultancy, a leading advisor in tourism, real estate and economic development, was published. Resonance's rankings quantify and benchmark the relative quality of place, reputation and competitive identity for the continent’s major urban centres.
To rank the performance and perception of Europe’s Best Cities for 2025, Resonance analysed the principal cities of metropolitan statistical areas with populations of more than 500,000 (according to Eurostat, Demographia and National Statistical Offices, our population sources). They determined the top cities using a combination of core statistics and user-generated data from online sources such as Google, Tripadvisor and Instagram to measure quality of place when it comes to experiential factors.
In total, 100 cities feature on the list – but we've broken it down to the Top 21, such are the heights Edinburgh has risen to in this year's ranking. Take a look through our photo gallery to see Europe’s Best Cities for 2025 – and where Auld Reekie is placed on the list.
5. Barcelona, Spain
Rank: 4th. 'The Catalan capital is as coveted as ever, but today it’s welcoming the world on its own terms, doing right by its residents and long-term economic sustainability.' Photo: Pixabay
6. Rome, Italy
Rank 5th. 'The Eternal City has always been coveted. These days, the bounty is an immersive step back in time under the global spotlight as millions of pilgrims descend for the 2025 Jubilee.' Photo: Pixabay
7. Madrid, Spain
Rank 6th. Madrid’s sustainability-driven investment in its bounteous urban and natural assets is an ode to reuse and a conviction that everything old can be new again. Photo: Pixabay
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rank 7th. 'Amsterdam is done with your partying. But you’re welcome to respectfully join the city’s 750th birthday celebrations this year.' Photo: Pixabay