First in our ranking is Geneva. The beautiful city in Switzerland is a vibrant cultural hub with a thriving film industry.
Are you someone who has a deep passion for everything related to the cinema or perhaps a passionate movie buff looking for new and exciting films to watch? Cinema lovers may have a strong interest in a particular genre, era, or director or have a broad appreciation for all types of films. One thing is certain, for anyone who appreciates cinema, movies are not just a form of entertainment but a source of inspiration and creative expression.
Holidu, the holiday rental portal, decided to conduct a study to identify the best cities for cinema lovers! To achieve this, data from Google Maps was analysed, including the total number of cinemas per city, the average rating of the cinemas in each city and the number of cinemas per city per 10,000 inhabitants.
Top 10 Best European Cities for Cinema Lovers
1. Geneva, Switzerland
First in our ranking is Geneva. The beautiful city in Switzerland is a vibrant cultural hub with a thriving film industry. The city has a number of cinemas that show a variety of films from different genres and cultures. For example, there are mainstream cinemas showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters, as well as arthouse cinemas offering more niche and independent films. Some popular cinema chains in Geneva include Cinélux and Cinérama, among others. Geneva also hosts several film festivals throughout the year, including the Geneva International Film Festival (GIFF) which showcases a wide range of films and attracts directors, actors and film enthusiasts from all over the world.
2. Warsaw, Poland
In second place is the capital of Poland, Warsaw. A city that has something to offer for every cinephile, with a variety of cinemas, from mainstream cinemas to alternative venues. Some popular cinema chains in the city include Multikino, Cinema City and Kinoteka. However, a unique cinema experience in Warsaw is the Kino Muranów, a beautifully renovated cinema dating back to the 1950s, which features a retro design and offers a range of films from classics to contemporary independent films. Warsaw also hosts some film festivals such as the Warsaw Film Festival which takes place in October. Warsaw’s film scene as a whole is dynamic, diverse and promising.
3. Berlin, Germany
Next in our ranking is Berlin, the capital of Germany. The city is known for its very rich history, lively culture and flourishing art scene. Cinemas occupy an important place in this scene, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy films from around the world in a variety of venues. Some popular cinemas in the city are Cinestar, UCI Kinowelt and Filmrauschpalast, among others. But for those looking for a more alternative cinema experience, Moviemento cinema has been operating since the 1970s and specialises in showing independent and international films. Berlin also hosts various film festivals throughout the year. One of the most notable is the Berlin International Film Festival, also known as the Berlinale. This event takes place every year in February.
4. Bologna, Italy
The fourth place in the ranking is taken by Bologna. The charming city in northern Italy is known for its rich artistic and cultural scene, including many cinemas that cater to the different tastes of viewers. The cinemas, Cinema Lumière and Cinema Odeon, show a wide range of films, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent and foreign language films from Italy and beyond. Bologna is also home to the Cineteca di Bologna, a film archive and cultural institution that preserves and restores films from around the world. The Cineteca offers a range of film-related events and activities, including screenings, workshops and exhibitions. Bologna also hosts the Il Cinema Ritrovato film festival, which takes place every year in June, and features classic and rare films from around the world.
5. Munich, Germany
The fifth place in our ranking belongs to Munich. Located in southern Germany, the city also boasts a diverse and growing film scene, offering a range of options for cinema lovers. Some of the most popular cinemas in the city are Cineplex, Cinemaxx and Mathäser Filmpalast. For those looking for a more independent film experience, Munich has several art-house cinemas such as City Kinos and Monopol Kino, showing independent film productions as well as cult classics. One of the most notable festivals that take place in the city is the Munich Film Festival, which is held every year in June and showcases a range of films from various countries and genres.
Who rounds off the top 10?
6. Paris, France
7. Athens, Greece
8. Porto, Portugal
9. Nuremberg, Germany
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
To create this study, data on 345 European cities was gathered. Google Maps data was examined including the total number of cinemas per city, the average rating of the cinemas per city and the number of cinemas per city per 10,000 inhabitants. Cities that had less than 10 cinemas were not included in the final ranking. The data was extracted in February 2023.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
