10 spectacular European homes

With 50 countries and excellent transport links, Europe is the quintessential continent for multi-city trips. Down south, the shores of the Mediterranean house picture-perfect cityscapes, and further up, sprawling inland metropolises like Paris, Berlin or Manchester means you’ll never run out of landmarks to visit, cuisine to try or adventures to go on.

This summer, football fans will be flocking to the continent to watch their favourite teams in the UEFA EURO 2024™, with many staying on to explore host nation Germany and other nearby countries. Beyond the roar of the crowds, a beautiful holiday home to retreat to can make or break a holiday. We’ve curated ten of the most striking apartments and houses to add to your wish list.

While London may be an obvious choice for travellers, the capital’s northern counterpart, Manchester, has plenty to offer too, especially for football fans. The sport originated in Britain, so this seems like a fitting place to kick off our list. Manchester is famously home to two of the Premier League’s most successful teams, as well as the legendary Old Trafford stadium.

It’s also a melting pot of culture and cuisine, and its centre thrums with life, day to night. This makes the Lock Keepers Cottage particularly surprising – a dose of English countryside charm right in the thick of the action.

Think red-brick walls overgrown with ivy and flowers, a wrought-iron fence corralling bright-green grass and a canal with a hand-operated lock flowing past the front door as skyscrapers loom in the background. Inside this three-bedroom home, the charm continues, with subtly vintage furnishings enhancing the old-meets-new feel and a skylight drenching the eat-in kitchen in sunshine.

The unofficial capital of northern Spain’s Basque Country, Bilbao is a food and culture mecca for those in the know. This port city is also favoured for its cooler temperatures, especially in the summer months, and abundance of outdoor activities.

The Bilbao Dreams apartment wears the city’s reputation for contemporary art like a cloak, with the three-bedroom space transformed into an approximation of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao – the Frank Gehry-designed gallery itself just an eight-minute walk away.

In this home, every wall is a canvas, weathered wood columns support pressed ceilings and standard furnishings – like mirrors, curtains and light fixtures – become showpieces.

Germany is the 2024 host of the UEFA EURO 2024™, and in Berlin, two teams will battle for glory at the final. Mitte is the capital’s central borough, home to attractions like the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and Tiergarten Park, and it’s here where you’ll find the Architektur Wohnung apartment.

Although technically a one-bedroom home, it’s designed like a very clever, very cool dormitory, with a loft space over the main quarters – as a result, it sleeps up to ten guests.

What stands out about this roomy home are its whitewashed brick walls, an amalgamation of pastel, candy and primary-hued fixtures, retro touches and heavy nods to postmodernism – you could almost picture Wes Anderson shooting a scene in either of the two bathrooms.

Milan is Italy’s second most populous city – after Rome – and though it may not be the epicentre of an ancient empire, it’s just as layered and exciting as the capital, renowned for fashion, art, history, football and more.

Piazza del Duomo – or cathedral square – is the city’s heart, and you can start each morning with a leisurely ten-minute stroll to greet it when you stay at The Warm Maison. This exceptional home lives up to its curious name by being spacious and cosy.

Textured wooden floors gleam throughout, and the walls are laden with art and knick-knacks. There’s even a well-stocked bookcase for the literary inclined.

With its bohemian charm and artistic alums ranging from Van Gogh to Hemingway, Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement might just be Paris’ most beloved neighbourhood.

This cobble-laned quartier sits on the capital’s northern slopes, tucked between two contrasting icons: the legendary Moulin Rouge in the red-light district and the hilltop Sacré-Cœur Basilica – a grand cathedral to rival Notre Dame (and it’s free to visit). It’s here that we find the Montmartre Artist Workshop, a loft apartment that captures the area’s creative soul.

From the outside, the end-to-end windows and roof hatches trimmed in red give it the appearance of a doll’s house, while within, it delights with quirky, colourful decor and repeated archways. There’s even an enchantingly overgrown garden where you can hide from the world with a fresh pain au chocolat and a paperback.

Amsterdam isn’t short on charming homes, thanks to its wealth of historical buildings that line the famous waterways. Though it’s rare for an apartment where the bed and kitchen share a room to capture the imagination so forcefully, Studio Koggeschip is no ordinary small home.

Pistachio is the standout hue, splashed across the textured brick walls, framing the windows as long, gauzy curtains and paired with other shades of green and rustic woods in the decor.

This cosy space is extra special because the vintage furniture feels like it was always there rather than deliberately curated. You can take a 16-minute walk to Rembrandt House to keep up the feeling of time travel. Other nearby attractions include the Royal Palace of Amsterdam and Anne Frank House.

Lisbon’s city centre is a showcase for the capital, with must-see attractions like Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle, a riverfront promenade and picturesque neighbourhoods like Bairro Alto and Chiado.

Here, just an eight-minute walk from the historical Moorish Quarter, you’ll find this three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment. Its soft green walls, high ceilings and perfectly appointed collection of art and plants make it a calming urban oasis.

In the mornings, stroll to a nearby bakery and come home clutching a brown paper bag of pastéis de nata – Portugal’s signature custard-filled treat – to enjoy on the rustic balcony. When night falls, you can watch the panoramic view change as the lights switch on before heading out to explore the nightlife.

While the port city of Ghent has a rich mediaeval history, with sights like Gravensteen Castle and St. Bavo's Cathedral, it also has a cool, alternative side.

There’s even a dedicated Graffiti Street and annual street-art festival. You’ll be well-placed for exploring with a stay at Hof Van Spanje, with key landmarks just minutes away on foot. This building offers two airy units, each with two bedrooms and a pièce de résistance – a large terrace looking out over the rooftops and spires of the city.

The interiors are a pared-back fusion of old world meets new: think a medley of exposed brick and stone, lofty beams, copper bed warmers hanging from the walls, minimalist light fittings and antique furniture.

Located on one of Stockholm’s many islands, Gamla Stan is the Swedish capital’s Old Town. Here, you’ll find a colourful clutter of storybook-esque merchant houses, cobbled mediaeval lanes and attractions like the Royal Palace, Stortorget square, Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum.

Amidst all the old-world charm sits The Architects' House. This historical building offers two one-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom apartment.

These units pay homage to the considered minimalism that Swedish interior design is so famous for and express the area’s history through original details like brick and wood floors, wide ceiling beams, winding stairs and a log burner shaped like a castle turret.

The ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s most visited spots – a fortified city with striking red rooftops, ancient history and translucent turquoise waters. Visitors flock here for the natural beauty of the Dalmatian Coast, white-sand beaches, friendly locals and outstanding views – it’s easy to see why it was a key filming location for the Game of Thrones series.

The city’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a stay here at Apartment Little Star gives you easy access to both historical landmarks and the seashore. The interior of this home is quaint and cosy, with pops of colour and heritage pieces like a traditional gramophone, but it’s outside that it truly shines.

The wraparound terrace gives sweeping views to rival any postcard, complete with dining tables and a lounge set so you can enjoy dinner and drinks against the darkening sky as the city lights flicker on.