Coffee lover? The best European cities to enjoy a coffee, ranked
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It’s fair to say that coffee is one of the most popular drinks on the planet! So, from Italy’s famed roasteries to Spain’s café culture, savouring a cup of java is not just an enjoyable daily pick-me-up, but has proven itself a great cultural touchpoint, with every country putting its own spin on this caffeinated classic.
Even if coffee may not be your cup of tea, we think the summer sun and delicious coffee found across Europe could sway you into finding your next getaway. You might even encounter a type of coffee you may never have tried or heard of before. And maybe, soon even love! What a cool way to discover more about communities around the world.
At Ubuy Italy, we decided to rank the top 20 capital cities in Europe to enjoy a cup of coffee, looking at the number of cafés nationally and per capita, and the cost of coffee in each city. So, planning a trip to any of these destinations? Finding the best cup of local coffee could be the final push you need for booking the trip of a lifetime. And you could even do it in the beaming sun - perfect.
Methodology
Out of all capital cities in Europe, we investigated the number of coffee shops in each city using a popular travel review site, and per capita (per 100,000), the average number of days of summer (June to August) sunshine to enjoy coffee outside versus the days of average rainfall (June to August), and the cost of a single cup according to Mandoe Media’s Global Coffee Prices and Trends 2024 report.
We then ranked each city from 1-20 by their total average score across these factors.
The top 20 cities for coffee lovers
Athens, Greece
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Coming in first is Greece’s capital city, Athens. Scoring the highest of 181 points, Athens has proven itself the best city for coffee lovers in Europe! Here you can enjoy an average of 1040 hours of sun from June through to August, and you’ll have the option to choose from their plentiful 404 coffee shops.
You could even try their famed delicacy, Ellenikos Kafes, which is brewed differently to traditional coffee. Made in a conical briki pot, the acquired taste of this rich and dark Greek coffee is therefore considered an art form. Could this be your next drink of choice? Find out from Athens’ 61 cafés per capita, where an average cup will set you back only $2.62.
The average rainfall from June to August in Athens is also the second lowest in our top 10 rated cities, following only after Nicosia, Cyprus. This Mediterranean haven’s average is just 27.7mm of rain across those three summer months, so you could enjoy a great coffee without the likely chance of an unexpected downpour.
Lisbon, Portugal
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Second on this list is Lisbon, Portugal, with an impressive rating of 174 points.
With the second lowest rainfall out of our top 10 rated countries - there’s only 4.2mm of rain in June, for example - Lisbon evidently doesn’t compromise on the weather nor coffee. With around 1000 hours of sun in June, July and August, the summer rays are guaranteed to make that caffeine hit taste all the more sweeter when local brews only cost $2.04 a cup.
This coastal capital also has an amazing 30 cafés per capita, so there’s plenty of places to check out that could take your fancy.
Rome, Italy
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In third place is Rome, the Eternal City. With two thousand years of history deeming this city perfect for a history lover, its 405 coffee shops and cafés - the most out of our top 10 - makes this Italian getaway great for caffeine lovers, too. An average coffee will only cost $1.89. Fantastico!
Traditional Roman coffee consists of a short shot of espresso, usually 1 inch deep, that is finished with a small drop of milk. This is known as a caffè macchiato. Their drier local beans result in a dark, sharp caffeine taste. Not for the faint hearted, this can be found alongside other delicacies such as a caffè shakerato - an iced, sugared, shaken espresso cocktail.
Madrid, Spain
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Madrid, Spain’s capital, is the largest city in our top 10 rankings. With it, comes an array of cultural, culinary and coffee experiences that have cemented itself as the 4th best city in Europe for coffee lovers.
With only 43mm of rain over the summer months, this could be your next seasonal favourite where over 1000 hours of sun are ready to welcome you to a city brewing with coffee choices - 350 to be exact.
Nicosia, Cyprus
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Following with 158 points is Cyprus’ capital city, Nicosia.
It’s one of the smaller cities in our top 10, but don’t be fooled - the coffee culture here still packs a punch, with 30 coffee shops and cafés per capita. Similar to its Greek neighbour, Cyprus is known for its strong, sharp coffee, which comes in at an average of $3.27 for a cup.
With the lowest rainfall out of all our ranked cities, Nicosia might just be the historical sunny backdrop for your next coffee fuelled adventure!
Budapest, Hungary
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Situated in central Europe and split by the historic Danube River, Hungary’s Budapest comes in next with 152 points.
Coffee is Hungary’s national drink, consisting of a sharp mocha called a presszókávé that has been around for centuries. Plus, it’s often heavily sweetened. Does strong and sweet sound like your thing? Well, with a plethora of coffee shops and cafés to wet the appetite - 260 to be exact - Budapest offers the second cheapest java in our top 10. A cup will set you back only $1.37! What’s not to love?
Andorra la Vella, Andorra
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The smallest city in our top 10, Andorra’s capital Andorra la Vella is a historical skiing hub situated in the French Pyrenees between Spain and France. And it could be your upcoming choice for enjoying a great cup of Joe away from the bustle of Europe’s busier, archetypally touristy destinations. With peace and quiet being the best ingredient for a budget friendly $1.76 coffee, Andorra la Vella might just be the continent's best kept coffee secret, and your next go-to destination for unpacking loads of cool roasteries to visit.
Something to be mindful of is that the average rainfall in June, July and August is a moderate 195mm. But don’t let that put you off wanting to sit outside with a good coffee, because the city has the most summer sunshine out of not just the top 10, but the top 20 cities. Enjoy an average of a blissful 1813 hours!
Tirana, Albania
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In Tirana, central Albania, not only can you find 979 hours of wonderful warm sunshine to aid your summer sipping, but you can find the cheapest cup of coffee out of our top 10 cities, coming in at a very wallet friendly average of $1.04!
Kind on the purse strings without compromising on the culture, Albanian’s see coffee as so much more than something to gobble down half asleep in the morning. Instead, locals see it as an invitation to unwind, catch up with friends and savour a moment of peace amid a busy day. If this appeals to you, maybe Tirana’s top 10 positioning could sway you into booking your next weekend getaway.
Bratislava, Slovakia
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Next, in ninth place, is Bratislava with 132 points.
The average price of a coffee in the city is $2.56. We hope imagining Slovakia’s 816 hour average of mid-year sun alongside your espresso does tick the box. With 18 cafes per capita there is plenty of lovely places to choose from when you are visiting the capital of Slovakia. Weather you choose to sit down at one of its wonderful cafes or take your favourite type of coffee with you and enjoy a picturesque walk.
Monaco, Monaco
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In tenth place is Monaco, with 128 points. Despite a cup of coffee being the most expensive out of our ranked cities, an average of $5.02, Monaco boasts the most coffee shops per capita out of any of the other ranked cities, with a whopping 80 to choose from. So, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Plus, their amazing weather is not to be forgotten, where over 900 hours of blissful sunshine is to be enjoyed on this beachfront paradise. There’s also pretty low rainfall from June through to August. No clouds, coffee in hand, caffeine in the body, sun on the skin - what’s not to love?
Other amazing getaways
As for the remaining cities in our ranking, London follows closely behind in 11th place with an average score of 126 points. Here you can find the most coffee shops to choose from, with an impressive array of 1,133! In joint 12th place with just one less point of 125, is the Czech Republic’s Prague and Bucharest, which boasts a cheap java at an average of only $1.49.
In joint succession is Berlin, Germany with 123 points and Reykjavik, Iceland. Then, a sunny Warsaw, Poland, follows, seeing approximately 864.4 hours of summer sun and a coffee with an average cost of $2.52. Sofia, Bulgaria comes next, scoring 117 points.
For the final three, the relatively small population of Helsinki’s 558,457 could be a great choice for a peaceful escape, where you can choose between their 105 coffee shops and cafés. Next up is Vienna, Austria, which has an impressive 237 cafés, but the second highest average summer rainfall of 216mm. In 20th place is Moldova’s Chisinau which closely follows with 113 points.
Stay thirsty for travel and for coffee…
Although art, sightseeing and culture might be the obvious choices for pinpointing a holiday destination, as you can see, Europe is also a great place for delving into international coffee traditions and tastes. Exploring the continent’s café culture can be a great way to discover places off the beaten track of cities far and wide. Offering local versions of this globally adored drink at competitive prices, Europe feels a fitting go-to for coffee lovers all year round.
Whether a slow sip in the sun or a grab-n-go on the way to check out some local sights, we hope that this list inspires your next favourite destination, and, maybe even your next favourite drink. Happy sipping!