Will you be single this Valentine’s Day? Let us tell you where to celebrate it in the best way possible
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This can be a difficult day to stomach when you’re single, finding yourself surrounded by couples holding hands and other public displays of romance.
You could stay at home feeling sorry for yourself, thinking about your ex-partners. However, we’ve got a better idea. Why not opt for a change of scenery and embrace the opportunity to meet other singles in other destinations, who are probably thinking exactly the same as you at this time of year?
To increase your chances of success, this article will list the 10 best European cities for finding a partner. Pack your bags and get ready for a trip with Cupid by your side!
1. BERLÍN
Berlin is primarily renowned for its buzzing nightlife, with creative and original bars on every corner. Do you fancy a night out with some other single people? The biggest singles event in the city is called “Fisch sucht Fahrrad” (fish searches for a bike), which is held on a monthly basis.
A special edition of this event is held on Valentine’s Day, so consider yourself in luck! Just be sure to buy your ticket in advance, as there are lots of fish in this sea. Just over half the population of this crazy and transgressive city declare themselves to be single, with hundreds of bars that stay open until the early hours. Our favourite nightclub: Sísifo!, home to excellent underground techno music.
2. PRAGUE
Prague’s nightlife is hardly tame either. The Czech capital is home to a wide range of nightclubs and bars where you can enjoy a memorable night. There are no fewer than twenty venues with a rating of 4.5 stars or more on Google!
Be sure to visit the Mirror Chapel in Klementinum: a fantastic venue for amazing jazz concerts. All of the monuments are concentrated in the old part of the city, meaning you don’t need to walk far along its narrow windy streets in order to tick them all off. This makes Prague a fantastic destination for a day trip. However, if you fancy a night out in Prague on Valentine’s Day, there is an event called Red in the Mr. A. restaurant, which hosts live music performances.
3. LONDON
England isn’t necessarily known for its high proportion of single people. The city of London, however, is a different story, with 44.1% of its population declaring themselves as single. So, if you end up heading to London, there’s a good chance you’ll meet someone! If things don’t work out, you can still make the most of the city’s free cultural jewels such as the Tate Modern and the British Museum. According to Google Maps, there are around 250 bars and clubs where you can stay out (and find a partner) until the early hours. Do you consider yourself to be something of a contrarian? Consider yourself in luck, as you can participate in an anti-Valentine’s Day pub crawl for golden singles such as yourself. Our favourite nightclub: XOYO, on Cowper Street (borough of Islington), where international DJs enthral party-goers with techno and house music.
4. PARÍS
If you hear someone call “Chérie!” behind you, then things are looking promising. Stay right where you are and turn around! This is a typically French way of getting the attention of a potential partner. Paris is known as the ‘city of love’, but this doesn’t mean that you need to have found love before visiting the city. 51.8% of Paris’ population is single.
In the Le Marais district, you can take a look at the city’s trendiest galleries, boutiques and squares. When night falls, Chez Georges is a cosy bar with a fantastic wine selection, where you will enjoy a relaxed student vibe. On the same street, called Rue de Canettes, various other bars stay open until the early hours, offering you many different options if you fancy a late night. Do you enjoy live music? Bizz’art is the place for you. It’s located on the Canal Saint-Martin, which is renowned for its buzzing nightlife.
5. BARCELONA
We simply had to find space on this list for a Spanish city, bursting with the charm and aura that characterises us. Our personable culture and traditions (such as tapas) make it easier for us to strike up a conversation with potential partners than when we are abroad.
Barcelona has lots of things to discover during the day, such as the beautiful Gothic Quarter, which is renowned for its narrow streets, trendy bars, excellent tapas and great nightclubs. You can also spend a memorable night in bars such as Nevermind: a buzzing bar which is punky and alternative in equal measure. This is the perfect place to get to know someone and break the ice. Its graffiti-covered walls and half-pipes lend it an urban-industrial vibe, complemented with a 90s rock and grunge playlist.
6. BUDAPEST
Budapest is famous for its natural baths, where you can treat your body after a long day of sightseeing around the city. After a relaxing sauna, you’ll be ready to go out and paint the town red. One of the staples of Budapest nightlife are its various abandoned buildings that have been turned into clubs—known as ‘ruin bars’—which have given these buildings a new lease of life. Going out at night is a great way to get to know the real Budapest. There is always a relaxed atmosphere, which makes it a great way to meet people.
District VII is the Jewish quarter, which becomes a buzzing nightlife spot when the sun goes down. One bar that is worth visiting is Szimpla Kert: an authentic tourist attraction, and the oldest and most popular of the so-called ‘ruin bars’. It also hosts live music evenings, cinema screenings and art exhibitions. Another good recommendation is the Instant Club: a huge complex converted from 2 houses, with theatrical decor, 6 bars, 3 dancefloors and 2 gardens. The night usually begins with a live music concert before gradually becoming a rave.
7. AMSTERDAM
De Pijp is a great place for a pub crawl, as there are loads of pubs just a short distance from one another. These pubs stay open late on weekends, so you can stay out dancing until your feet hurt. On Valentine’s Day, you can take your pick from a huge range of speed dating events, which represent a great opportunity to meet other people.
In Amsterdam, 1 out of every 4 adults are single, so luck is on your side. The bar called Bukowski in the Oosterpark, for example, is a great place to strike up a conversation. In Javastraat, you will also find a series of cosy restaurants and bars where you can try out your chat up lines.
8. SEVILLA
Seville is a warm-blooded southern city that is bursting with life, especially after the sun goes down. When night falls, young people hit the streets with lots of art and a desire to flirt. Kick the night off in a relaxing manner by enjoying some tapas at El Rinconcillo or La Alameda de Hércules, which is surrounded by trendy bars such as los 100 Cocktelitos. Here, you can take your pick from a range of enormous cocktails at reasonable prices. Another option is the mysterious bar called La Bicicleteria, which is the perfect spot for a beer and a conversation. The sign says “members only”, but don’t let that put you off. All you need to do is press the buzzer. Providing it isn’t too busy, they’ll let you in.
9. MADRID
In Madrid, everything is possible, apart from being bored. You can spend the day visiting any number of its endless selection of museums, such as the Prado or the Reina Sofía. When night falls, you can discover another side of the capital city in its trendiest neighbourhoods. These are Chueca and Malasaña, always bursting with life with their various terraces, alternative bars and vintage clothes shops. Just around the corner is our favourite club for shaking our hips: Teatro Kapital. This old theatre has several different rooms hosting DJs of various styles, meaning you’re sure to find something you like.
10. REYKJAVIK
The last destination on our list is Reykjavík: a small city which is nothing like the metropolises of London and Paris. This means that the city is slightly safer for going out, with nightlife heavily concentrated around the same area. When night falls, you should head to the bars and clubs around the main shopping street, Laugavegur. We recommend hopping from one bar to another, enjoying a nice cold beer in each one. This will make it easier for you to chat up whoever is giving you the eyes! If you don’t have any luck in one bar, simply try the next one. The best place to start off is The Secret Cellar, where you can leave your dignity at the door and try your hand at karaoke.
