The eternal question when planning a trip. We analysed 97 cities around the world and their recommended visit length — with data, not hunches. Here are the tables, and at the end a free tool to build your itinerary in any of them.
Short breaks: in 1 or 2 days you see the essentials.
| City | Country | Days | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Coruña | Spain | 2 | beaches, coast, history |
| Agra | India | 1-2 | monuments, history, architecture |
| Alcalá de Henares | Spain | 1-2 | history, culture, architecture |
| Aranjuez | Spain | 1-2 | history, monuments, nature |
| Ávila | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, religion |
| Bilbao | Spain | 2 | art, architecture, food |
| Bruges | Belgium | 1-2 | romance, history, architecture |
| Burgos | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, religion |
| Cáceres | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, monuments |
| Cartagena | Spain | 2 | history, monuments, coast |
| Chinchón | Spain | 1-2 | history, food, culture |
| Cuenca | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, nature |
| Dubrovnik | Croatia | 2 | history, medieval, coast |
| Girona | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, culture |
| León | Spain | 1-2 | medieval, history, architecture |
| Mérida | Spain | 1-2 | history, monuments, culture |
| Milan | Italy | 2 | shopping, art, modern |
| Montserrat | Spain | 1-2 | nature, mountains, religion |
| Nerja | Spain | 1-2 | beaches, coast, nature |
| Oviedo | Spain | 2 | history, food, nature |
| Pamplona | Spain | 2 | history, monuments, food |
| Pisa | Italy | 1-2 | monuments, architecture, medieval |
| Ronda | Spain | 1-2 | nature, history, monuments |
| Salamanca | Spain | 1-2 | history, architecture, culture |
| San Lorenzo de El Escorial | Spain | 1-2 | history, monuments, religion |
| Santander | Spain | 2 | beaches, coast, food |
| Santiago de Compostela | Spain | 2 | religion, history, food |
| Segovia | Spain | 1-2 | history, monuments, food |
| Sitges | Spain | 1-2 | beaches, coast, nightlife |
| Toledo | Spain | 1-2 | history, monuments, religion |
| Venice | Italy | 2 | romance, architecture, history |
| Zaragoza | Spain | 2 | history, religion, architecture |
The most common length: time for the must-sees without rushing.
| City | Country | Days | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, coast, food |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | 2-3 | architecture, museums, nightlife |
| Athens | Greece | 2-3 | history, monuments, religion |
| Brussels | Belgium | 2-3 | architecture, art, food |
| Cadiz | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, history, coast |
| Cordoba | Spain | 2-3 | history, monuments, religion |
| Krakow | Poland | 2-3 | history, medieval, memorials |
| Dublin | Ireland | 2-3 | history, nightlife, culture |
| Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 2-3 | history, architecture, nature |
| Florence | Italy | 2-3 | art, history, architecture |
| Granada | Spain | 2-3 | history, monuments, mountains |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam | 2-3 | history, food, culture |
| Hong Kong | China | 2-3 | skyline, food, shopping |
| Kyoto | Japan | 2-3 | temples, culture, nature |
| Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 2-3 | culture, food, skyline |
| Malaga | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, art, food |
| Munich | Germany | 2-3 | history, architecture, nightlife |
| Naples | Italy | 2-3 | history, food, coast |
| Nice | France | 2-3 | beaches, riviera, art |
| Porto | Portugal | 2-3 | history, food, coast |
| Osaka | Japan | 2-3 | food, culture, history |
| Palma de Mallorca | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, history, coast |
| Prague | Czech Republic | 2-3 | architecture, history, nightlife |
| Salzburg | Austria | 2-3 | music, history, architecture |
| San Sebastián | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, food, coast |
| Santorini | Greece | 2-3 | island, sunsets, romance |
| Seoul | South Korea | 2-3 | culture, food, modern |
| Seville | Spain | 2-3 | history, monuments, culture |
| Sorrento | Italy | 2-3 | coast, riviera, romance |
| Split | Croatia | 2-3 | history, coast, monuments |
| Valencia | Spain | 2-3 | beaches, architecture, food |
| Warsaw | Poland | 2-3 | history, memorials, museums |
Big cities, or ones with lots nearby, that call for more time.
| City | Country | Days | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Thailand | 3-4 | religion, food, shopping |
| Barcelona | Spain | 3-4 | architecture, beaches, food |
| Berlin | Germany | 3-4 | history, art, nightlife |
| Budapest | Hungary | 3-4 | architecture, history, nightlife |
| Buenos Aires | Argentina | 4-5 | culture, food, nightlife |
| Cancun | Mexico | 4-5 | beaches, nature, nightlife |
| Mexico City | Mexico | 4-5 | history, art, food |
| Copenhague | Denmark | 3-4 | history, design, coast |
| Delhi | India | 3-4 | history, monuments, culture |
| Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 3-4 | modern, shopping, beaches |
| Cairo | Egypt | 3-4 | history, monuments, religion |
| Istanbul | Turkey | 3-4 | history, religion, food |
| Estocolmo | Sweden | 3-4 | history, museums, architecture |
| Gran Canaria | Spain | 3-4 | beaches, nature, island |
| Hanoi | Vietnam | 3-4 | history, food, culture |
| Ibiza | Spain | 3-4 | beaches, nightlife, coast |
| Havana | Cuba | 3-4 | history, culture, music |
| Lanzarote | Spain | 3-4 | nature, architecture, beaches |
| Lisbon | Portugal | 3-4 | history, food, coast |
| London | United Kingdom | 3-4 | museums, history, modern |
| Madrid | Spain | 3-4 | art, food, nightlife |
| Marrakesh | Morocco | 3-4 | culture, shopping, history |
| New York | United States | 4-5 | modern, museums, shopping |
| Paris | France | 3-4 | art, romance, monuments |
| Phuket | Thailand | 4-5 | beaches, island, nature |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 4-5 | beaches, nature, nightlife |
| Rome | Italy | 3-4 | history, art, food |
| Siem Reap | Cambodia | 3-4 | temples, history, architecture |
| Singapore | Singapore | 3-4 | modern, food, family |
| Tenerife | Spain | 4-5 | beaches, nature, mountains |
| Tokyo | Japan | 4-5 | modern, food, culture |
| Vienna | Austria | 3-4 | art, architecture, music |
Destinations to truly switch off.
| City | Country | Days | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | Indonesia | 5-7 | beaches, nature, culture |
We recommend 3-4 days for Rome (Italy). It's ideal for history, art, food. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Rome plan.
We recommend 3-4 days for Paris (France). It's ideal for art, romance, monuments. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Paris plan.
We recommend 3-4 days for London (United Kingdom). It's ideal for museums, history, modern. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the London plan.
We recommend 3-4 days for Barcelona (Spain). It's ideal for architecture, beaches, food. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Barcelona plan.
We recommend 2-3 days for Amsterdam (Netherlands). It's ideal for architecture, museums, nightlife. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Amsterdam plan.
We recommend 3-4 days for Lisbon (Portugal). It's ideal for history, food, coast. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Lisbon plan.
We recommend 2-3 days for Prague (Czech Republic). It's ideal for architecture, history, nightlife. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the Prague plan.
We recommend 4-5 days for New York (United States). It's ideal for modern, museums, shopping. You can build your day-by-day itinerary free on the New York plan.
With 7 days you can combine 2 or 3 nearby cities from those that need 2-3 days each (33% of our study). For example, a triangle of nearby European cities.
It depends on the city's density: big capitals reward 3 days; many mid-sized cities are enjoyed in 2. The table above has the recommendation for each one.
We combine each city's number of must-sees, the density of its main points of interest and a realistic visiting pace (no rushing). See the full criteria in our methodology.
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