These are the most “glamorous” cities in Europe 2026

April 10, 2025, 1:19 p.m. | Reading time: 5 minutes

A cosmetics company recently compared different amenities in a city and their presence on social media to find out which city in Europe is the "most glamorous." Sunnytrips shows the results and classifies them.

“The glamorous, glamorous / By the glamorous / Ooh, the flossy, flossy” from Fergie’s song “Glamorous” can’t be left in my head as I write this text and ask myself why it’s important to know which cities in Europe are the “most glamorous”. But so be it. This question was so important to the cosmetics company Catrice that it started a study on the topic.

How is glamor defined?

When I think of glamour, I inevitably think of New York, of limousines, private jets, champagne, glittering dresses and flowing ball gowns, chic restaurants and cocktail bars, and boutiques where beautiful ladies slip through their fingers on high-priced clothes. Catrice puts the focus a little differently: According to the cosmetics company, glamor is defined “by a mixture of style, beauty and elegance”. The key elements are “personal aesthetics, self-care, looking good and feeling good on your skin.” On this basis, it asked which city in Europe and Great Britain was considered the “epitome of glamour”.

To answer this, it compared the number of beauty salons and spas, shopping locations and annual search volume for nearby yoga and Pilates studios per 100,000 people in 30 European and 20 UK cities. The actual numbers are mentioned in the ranking. The number of annual beauty and fashion events as well as Instagram posts with the hashtags “#[location] aesthetic, #[location] style and #[location] fashion” were also taken into account in the rating. What exactly counts as a beauty or fashion event and the question of how credible Instagram hashtags are in terms of the actual glamor factor of a city remain open.

Current rankingThe most queer-friendly cities in Europe - including 2 in Germany

Sightseeing for little moneyThese cities in Europe have the most free attractions

This is the most “glamorous” city in Europe

The clear winner of the analysis is the British capital London, according to Catrice “rightly the most glamorous city in Europe”. London particularly stands out with an impressive number of 4,559 beauty salons and 857 spas. For the cosmetics company, “(the city) underlines its global status as a center for luxury and elegance.” There are also 484,000 searches for yoga and Pilates per year, proving that wellness is an important part of the London lifestyle.

In addition, London has 2,088 shopping locations, 857 hot tubs and 4,200 beauty and fashion events such as London Fashion Week. “But London’s glamorous charm only unfolds on social media,” says Catrice, who bases this questionable statement on more than five million hashtags that celebrate “the city’s distinctive style and cosmopolitan fashion scene.” According to the company, London "dominates Instagram with over five million hashtags, including 'aesthetics', 'fashion' and 'style', making it the hottest city on Instagram - both in Europe and the UK."

Zurich and Paris in second and third place

Zurich takes second place among the most glamorous cities in Europe. According to Catrice, the Swiss city is “known for its sophisticated taste and exclusivity.” It offers an impressive number of 158 shopping locations for its just over 340,000 residents. “Easy access to high-quality fashion contributes to the city's glamorous feel and makes it a place where style and elegance come together,” writes Catrice. There are also 549 beauty salons and 160 spas as well as 13,200 searches for yoga and Pilates.

Note: The exact point in time at which Catrice carried out these examinations is not mentioned. However, according to the current figures from the city of Zurich, it had 448,664 inhabitants in 2024 and 448,886 in January 2025, i.e. around 100,000 more than stated by Catrice.

Not surprisingly, the French capital Paris is also in the list of the most glamorous cities in Europe, although only in third place. According to Catrice, she continues to be considered the "epitome of style and glamour" (which should answer the original question) and is "known worldwide for her forward-thinking fashion culture." 1,124 fashion and beauty events take place here every year, including the renowned Paris Fashion Week. When it comes to Instagram hashtags, Paris also offers half as many as London: Catrice states around 2.5 million here.

BILD Reisen: Discover the best hotels in Zurich now!

However, Paris surpasses Zurich across the board, the French city with over a million inhabitants has more than three times as many beauty salons and yoga-pilates searches, four times as many beauty and fashion events, more than six times as many spas and even more than twelve times as many shopping locations and 55 times as many Instagram hashtags. Even broken down into facilities per resident, the ranking remains unclear to us. An example: Paris had around 2,087,577 inhabitants in January 2025 and therefore around 1 shopping location per 1033 inhabitants. According to our calculations, there is one shopping location for every 2,840 inhabitants in Zurich.

These are the most glamorous cities in Europe according to Catrice

Whether you're planning your next vacation, researching destinations, comparing travel costs, or looking for unique online stores, having reliable resources can make every decision easier. This guide highlights useful travel insights, money-saving tips, dining recommendations, and specialty websites worth exploring.

Smart Travel Planning and Budget Strategies

Successful trips start with proper preparation. Before booking, review these practical href="https://grandgoldman.com/blogs/travel/planning-tips">travel planning tips to avoid common mistakes and maximize your budget.

Travelers interested in resort vacations should learn the cheapest time for all-inclusive resorts and discover the most affordable countries for all-inclusive resorts.

If you're comparing options, explore whether all-inclusive vacations are cheaper than booking separately, understand how all-inclusive resorts generate revenue, and determine the ideal length of an all-inclusive stay.

Understanding All-Inclusive Resorts

Many travelers wonder about resort experiences. Learn about the various types of all-inclusive resorts, discover the advantages and drawbacks of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, and see whether all-inclusive resorts are really boring.

You may also want to know whether resorts water down alcohol, what happens at adult-only all-inclusive resorts, and whether kids-free">Sandals Resorts are kid-free.

Dining Recommendations Around Europe

Food is often the highlight of travel. Discover the best restaurants in Córdoba, find a cheap restaurant in Madrid, enjoy local cuisine at a budget-friendly restaurant in Cudillero, explore the best restaurants in Budapest, and save money with recommendations for the best cheap restaurants in Iceland.

Unique Destinations and Cultural Insights

Travelers heading to Mexico may enjoy these clothing-optional beaches in Cancun. For those interested in history and social studies, this guide to South African apartheid history offers valuable context.

Travel Finance and Essential Resources

Reducing banking fees while abroad can significantly lower travel costs. Compare options for the best credit cards without foreign transaction fees.

Online Shopping, Business, and Lifestyle Websites

Beyond travel, several specialty websites provide useful products and services. Explore educational toys at Building Blocks Toy, Spanish business resources at Empresa España, and French business information through Entreprises France.

anime-toy.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anime fans can browse merchandise at jujutsu-kaisen-merch.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jujutsu-kaisen-merch.com/">Jujutsu Kaisen Merch, while leather enthusiasts may appreciate Leder Kaufen.

Creative services are available through Matrix Studios, while premium fashion shoppers can visit Pretium Victoriae. Gaming enthusiasts can discover retro-games.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retro entertainment at Retro Games.

Motorcycle riderace.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">riders may enjoy resources from RideRace, and kitchen product shoppers can explore innovative accessories at Walfos, with cutting edge compact computers at Mini PC.

Final Thoughts

From all-inclusive resort planning and European dining guides to financial travel tools and niche online stores, these resources provide valuable information for travelers, shoppers, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists looking to make informed decisions and enjoy better experiences.