Best Youth Destinations in Europe

Berlin, Germany

The youth capital of Europe. Fantastic nightclubs, a liberal policy on drinking alcohol in public (it's totally allowed) and so much green space. And it's a very cheap city to spend time in.

Could any other city have topped this list?

Brussels, Belgium

Chocolate and beer, chocolate and beer, chocolate and beer. Learn what's wrong with Bud Light and ​Hershey's before it's too late.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The land of sex and drugs: done the European way. Buy cannabis from an actual menu and peek at the legally regulated red-light district. Nowhere are you safer doing the things you probably shouldn't.

Salamanca, Spain

One of the oldest university cities in Europe and a popular destination for European Erasmus and American Study Abroad exchange students, this is a vibrant place to learn Spanish. Also close to Madrid, the Spanish capital.

• Learn Spanish in Salamanca

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is famous for its ruin pubs (bars that have been set up in dilapidated old buildings) and the Sziget music festival, a week of music and performances on an island in the Danube. Budapest also has one of the best craft beer scenes in Europe.

Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

A once-abandoned town that got cleaned up in time for the party buses that now tour Eastern Europe. Enjoy water sports on the river and cheap Czech pilsners, set against the beautiful UNESCO-protected architecture of the old town.

Reykjavik, Iceland

The capital of Iceland actually goes against the criteria I used at the start of this article - it is expensive and in the middle of nowhere (though Icelandic budget airline WOW air allows for great stopovers on the way from New York and Boston to Europe).

The home of Icelandic superstars Sigur Ros and Björk and the setting for a lot of HBO's Game of Thrones, is anywhere hipper than Reykjavik? 

Lisbon, Portugal

The cheapest capital city in Western Europe had to appear on this list. Lisbon has a strong influence from its Brazilian expat community, which means you won't get a better - or cheaper - caipirinha anywhere in Europe.

Tarifa, Spain

The most southerly point in Spain, Tarifa is great for water sports, whale watching and for crossing the narrow Strait of Gibraltar to visit Morocco.

• Ferries to Morocco from Tarifa

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Another city on the Eastern Europe party circuit, Dubrovnik is well connected to the Croatian coastline and to the historic Bosnian cities of Sarajevo and Mostar. Also a filming location for many scenes in Game of Thrones.