3 cities for street photography in Europe
If you're looking for inspiration for a quick European city break and want to end up somewhere where photography seems to happen naturally, I have a few suggestions.
I’m very picky when it comes to city breaks. I can get genuinely excited about visiting a new place, but after a day or two, I’m often ready to pack my bags and head home.
A city needs to have something special - actually, quite a lot of it - to win me over.
Good food helps. So do places where you can escape the crowds when the streets become a bit much. But above all, I want a city that makes me want to walk around with a camera and see what happens.
These are three cities that do exactly that.
Berlin
The classic saying goes: If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. I’m convinced the same applies to Berlin.
This city breaths hard - day and night. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you don’t surrender to it, it’ll chew you up and spit you out. But if you go with the flow, you’ll return home with hard drives full of images that will stay with you for years.
For cultural spots, I recommend the Kinemathek. If you’re into something unique, check out the former Tempelhof Airport, which comes alive on weekends. For iconic areas, Friedrichshain is the heart of the alternative scene, packed with galleries, flea markets, and great bars.
Don’t skip the underground either. Berlin’s U-Bahn is full of atmospheric stations, old tiles, colourful details and moody light. There are plenty of great photo opportunities below street level.
P.S. Berlin is a paradise for foodies (especially vegans).
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is practically next door for me. For anyone visiting Amsterdam for photography reasons, it would be a shame not to hop on a train and check it out.
There’s a lot to take in - the multicultural energy of a metropolis, the blend of modern office buildings and vast waterfronts, lots of open space, greenery, gram-worthy architecture and landmarks, viewpoints, and charming alleyways. Here you’ll find people from all cultures and backgrounds.
Rotterdam is also a great place to enjoy before and after a photo walk. There are plenty of spots for food and coffee, as well as places to take a break from the streets and soak in some culture (I can’t recommend Kunsthal and Fotomuseum enough).
Lisbon
I’ve only been to Lisbon once, but surely not for the last time. Portugal is a different state of mind, and I keep coming back to different regions now and then.
Lisbon (and Portugal in general) is all about colors. The colors of the sky before and after sunset, the colorful facades, the vibrant streets, the people, and the sun. Even in the middle of winter, the weather is usually relatively warm and pleasant, which makes Lisbon a pretty good escape when northern Europe is grey, cold and miserable.
There’s something photogenic around almost every corner, but it never feels too polished or staged. Even the little imperfections add to the character.
The city itself is easy to explore on foot, although be prepared for the hills. Lots of them. But that’s part of the fun - you can climb one street, turn a corner, and suddenly find yourself looking over rooftops, the river, or a completely different part of the city.
The hospitality of the Portuguese, the delicious food (shoutout to the founders of a bakery selling vegan Pastéis de Nata), amazing coffee, and great wine. Portugal is also incredibly affordable - you won’t find a better quality-to-price ratio anywhere.
→ Check the detailed guide to photography in Algarve
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