Calling all Eurovision superfans! This year’s Eurovision entry for the UK has been announced and it’s British singer Mae Mueller who will be performing her brand new track ‘I wrote a song’ at the international music contest which will be held in Liverpool in May.
The last time the UK hosted Eurovision was in 1974 at the Dome in Brighton which saw Swedish superstars ABBA triumph with ‘Waterloo’.
Eurovision offers a great opportunity to showcase the host city to an international audience as well as attracting tens of thousands of visitors during the duration of the contest itself.
It’s also a great opportunity for Eurovision fans to visit a new destination and tie in a fantastic city break whilst enjoying one of the most exciting and colourful music events in the world.
So, don your glad rags, get your Eurovision snacks ready and let’s take a whistle-stop tour around the globe and let’s explore some of our favourite Eurovision host cities.
Sweden 🇸🇪
My my! Sweden has an impressive reputation for not only hosting fantastic Eurovisions, but for producing some of the most highly esteemed and revered music acts that have won this prestigious competition.
Sweden is one of the most successful competing countries in the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, second only to Ireland’s seven wins. Of course, the most famous of these winners is the one and only ABBA who won the competition with ‘Waterloo’ in 1974 when the competition was held in Brighton.
This win propelled the Swedish superstars to international stardom and they would subsequently go on to become one of the best-selling acts in pop music history.
Fast forward to this century and acts like Loreen and Måns Zelmerlöw have topped the votes and have become part of Eurovision history.
Three major cities in Sweden have hosted Eurovision: Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm which has been the host city three times.
Stockholm is one of the most popular cities to visit for fans of Eurovision. Not only is it a beautiful place with lots of fantastic things to see and do including some of the most diverse museums you could find in one city, but it’s also the ultimate destination for any Eurovision/ABBA enthusiast.
So, if you are keen to say ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ to find out more about the ABBA insiders guide to Stockholm, then you are in luck as you can not only visit the ABBA museum, but you can also follow in the footsteps of Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida and explore top-notch ABBA attractions throughout the city and beyond.
Ireland 🇮🇪
The Emerald Isle unequivocally is the most successful country of all time when it comes to Eurovision.
It holds the record for the most Eurovision wins; with a stellar seven wins since Ireland first entered the contest in 1965.
Ireland’s seven wins include Dana, Linda Martin and Johnny Logan who has won not just once, but twice which is a pretty impressive feat!
In fact, they have won Eurovision three times in a row attaining the top spot in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
The vibrant city of Dublin has hosted Eurovision six times and of course Dublin is synonymous with music with the likes of U2, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison and Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy hailing from the Irish capital.
If you are a music fan, Dublin serves up a plethora of musical treats.
From enjoying live music of all genres in the city’s pubs to paying a visit to the Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum by the Temple Bar where you can marvel at some of the coolest rock ‘n’ roll music memorabilia which includes a bass guitar and vintage band tees belonging to Phil Lynott.
Of course, a trip to Dublin would not be complete without a cheeky glass of whiskey or a pint of the black stuff.
Whether you’re new to whiskey and want to know more or you’re a connoisseur on the hunt for that ‘unicorn’ whiskey, you can be sure to find it in Dublin.
Italy 🇮🇹
Another Eurovision stalwart, Italy is another high flyer when it comes to singing success having won the contest three times.
Italy has also achieved a further top five placements making them one of the most victorious nations to take part in Eurovision.
Whilst more traditional songs have topped the vote, the most recent win was the Italian rock foursome ‘Maneskin’ who won the Eurovision Contest with their song ‘Zitti e Buoni’ in Rotterdam making it their third win in total.
The punk rockers have gone on to critical acclaim and are set to play Glastonbury this year having captivated audiences the world over.
Italy has hosted Eurovision three times in Naples, Turin and Rome in 1991.
Rome is a cultural hot spot and despite being more synonymous with ancient sites and delicious food, The Eternal City also offers lots for fans of music.
From a night of mesmerising opera at the spectacular ‘Teatro dell’Opera’ and enjoying live blues music at one of the city’s standout venues ‘Big Mama’ to rocking out at the intimate ‘Sinister Noise Club’ where you can enjoy seeing some of the best indie, rock and alternative bands in the city.
UK 🇬🇧
Liverpool is set to host the Eurovision song contest for the first time since the UK first participated in the competition in 1957.
The UK has taken part in 64 Eurovision contests and has won it five times, making them one of the most successful Eurovision winners of all times.
From Sandie Shaw in 1967 with the song ‘Puppet on a String’ to the eighties hitmakers Bucks Fizz with ‘Making Your Mind Up’ in 1981, the UK has a strong pedigree when it comes to Eurovision.
It has also achieved a record sixteen second-place finishes with the most recent being Sam Ryder with ‘Space Man’ who has subsequently gone on to international stardom and was nominated for Best New Act at the Brits earlier this year.
Despite only achieving the top position five times, the UK has hosted the competition eight times, having stepped in for other countries who were not able to host due to various issues.
This has included Brighton, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Birmingham and London on three separate occasions.
The English capital offers a treasure trove of treats for music lovers, from walking across the most photographed locations in London for music fans – Abbey Road to watching some live music at the esteemed 100 Club where everyone from the likes of Blur to Paul Weller have played.
From fantastic food to some of the best museums and art galleries in the world, as Samuel Johnson says ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’.
When it comes to Liverpool, this has some pretty sound music credentials of its own.
The city has a rich musical history, synonymous with The Beatles and has also been the place that has launched the career of the likes of The La’s, The Zutons and Circa Waves amongst others.
Israel 🇮🇱
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest a total of 44 times since making its debut in 1973 in Luxembourg.
It has won four times and subsequently hosted the Eurovision contest three times – once in Tel Aviv and twice in Jerusalem.
Eurovision has been won by two of the most memorable contestants in the contest’s history – Dana International in 1998 with ‘Diva’ and Netta with the quirky song ‘Toy’ in 2018.
Whether you favour Tel Aviv with its gorgeous beaches, incredible restaurants and vibrant nightlife or a visit to the holy city of Jerusalem where you can pay your respects at some of the holiest sites in the world as well as enjoying delicious food and some of the best nightlife in the country.
Israel is a superb destination for a getaway with or without the influence of Eurovision.
Austria 🇦🇹
Austria has won the Eurovision song contest twice since its debut in 1957 in 1966 and 2014 which is the longest gap between consecutive wins for any country taking part in the competition.
It has not participated in every single competition and has missed eight of the years for varying reasons, but has produced one of the most famous winners of the Eurovision song contest of all times.
Conchita Wurst with the rousing ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ which received a mammoth 290 points.
The beautiful city of Vienna has much to celebrate when it comes to a magnificent musical heritage.
In fact, when it comes to the music of Vienna, you can enjoy musical masterpieces almost every night.
From watching a show at the Vienna Opera House to a more low key musical experience mit Strudel at Café Schwarzenberg.
Why not indulge your musical senses even further with a music tour where you can follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s most renowned classical musicians?
Norway 🇳🇴
Whilst Norway has sometimes garnered a reputation for earning ‘nil points’ having finished last on eleven occasions, the Nordic country has also had several highs as well as the lows having achieved eleven top-five results in the contest.
Norway has also won on three separate occasions, most notably with Alexander Rybak’s ‘Fairytale’ in 2009 which topped the voting with 387 points.
It has hosted the Eurovision song contest three times – once in Bergen and twice in the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Absolutely chock-full of incredible restaurants, astounding architecture and top-notch attractions, Oslo hits the spot on so many levels and for culture vultures intoxicated by arts and music this is especially so.
From quirky music venues where you can see both local and international talent to some great , independent record shops, if you are a music lover and are heading to the Norwegian capital, you won’t be disappointed.
Funhouse makes for a great, low key option for fans of music.
This unpretentious basement rock bar puts on a wide variety of gigs from punk to indie and is considered one of the best music venues in Oslo.
Denmark 🇩🇰
Having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 50 times, Denmark has won three times: in 1963, 2000 and 2013, but has placed top five 14 times since it first took part in 1957.
Denmark won the contest for the third time in 2013, with ‘Only Teardrops’ sung by Emmelie de Forest. Similarly to Norway, Denmark has had mixed results in the competition notably having been relegated on three occasions in the 1990s.
The city of Copenhagen has hosted Eurovision on three occasions and has also been the host city for ‘Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest’ in 2005.
For Eurovision fans, a trip to the Danish capital will not disappoint and with an amazing abundance of incredible restaurants, superb cultural attractions and stunning natural green spaces, Copenhagen is a real feast for not just the eyes but for all of the senses.
When it comes to enjoying the music scene in Copenhagen, you can’t leave without paying a visit to Vega which is one of the best music venues in Europe.
All genres of music are catered for in Copenhagen, from electronica to jazz and as well as live music, there’s a fantastic selection of record shops, festivals and more to enjoy.
Netherlands 🇳🇱
With a grand total of 62 appearances since making its Eurovision debut in 1956, The Netherlands has won and subsequently hosted the competition five times, most recently in 2021 in Rotterdam after the previous year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The Dutch city was the host after singer Duncan Laurence won the competition for the Netherlands for the first time since 1975.
One of the other standout Dutch acts include duo The Common Linnets who narrowly missed out on winning in 2014 with ‘Calm After The Storm’.
Amsterdam was the host for the 1970 Eurovision, The Hague twice and Rotterdam has hosted the competition once as well as being the host for ‘Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light’ which was a replacement show in lieu of the cancelled Eurovision Song Contest in 2020.
Often likened to a ‘Dutch Brooklyn’, Rotterdam is sometimes considered a cooler cousin in comparison to Amsterdam.
Not only does it have some very striking architecture, intriguing cafes and boutique shopping, but it has a thriving underground club and music scene.
From jazz and classical to techno and experimental, the Rotterdam music scene is diverse and vibrant in equal measure. If you adore jazz and blues, make sure you head on over to
BIRD which is one of the top music venues for music lovers and in particular jazz aficionados.
The venue’s name is an ode to Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, the American jazz saxophonist and composer and whilst the roots of the music venue are in jazz, you can also enjoy gigs from a variety of venues including hip-hop, funk and more.
Finland 🇫🇮
When you think of Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, you can’t help but think of ‘Lordi’ the intriguing rockers who won in 2006 with the barnstorming ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’.
This was unequivocally Finland’s best ever year at Eurovision and marked Finland’s first even win since they first took part in 1961.
A groundbreaking song, this was a song that changed Finland’s fortunes with a grand total of 292 points at the event in Athens and (at the time) broke all records scoring the highest number of points in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Lordi are widely regarded as one of the most infamous acts in Eurovision history and their win was awarded with the Finnish capital Helsinki hosting the competition the following year.
Similarly to Lordi, Helsinki is often considered as an alternative destination for a cool city break.
There’s no shortage of top-notch attractions to discover in Helsinki which includes a UNESCO-listed fortress, historical buildings, museums and more.
Make sure you carve out time to visit the Helsinki Design District where you will find an unrivalled selection of shops selling some of the best Finnish brands across clothing, books, jewellery, and more.
As you might expect, the live music scene in Helsinki is focused on rock music, but you can also enjoy a fantastic night out enjoying music like disco, techno and trance.
Sweden
My my! Sweden has an impressive reputation for not only hosting fantastic Eurovisions, but for producing some of the most highly esteemed and revered music acts that have won this prestigious competition.
Sweden is one of the most successful competing countries in the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, second only to Ireland’s seven wins. Of course, the most famous of these winners is the one and only ABBA who won the competition with ‘Waterloo’ in 1974 when the competition was held in Brighton.
This win propelled the Swedish superstars to international stardom and they would subsequently go on to become one of the best-selling acts in pop music history.
Fast forward to this century and acts like Loreen and Måns Zelmerlöw have topped the votes and have become part of Eurovision history.
Three major cities in Sweden have hosted Eurovision: Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm which has been the host city three times.
Stockholm is one of the most popular cities to visit for fans of Eurovision.
Not only is it a beautiful place with lots of fantastic things to see and do including some of the most diverse museums you could find in one city, but it’s also the ultimate destination for any Eurovision/ABBA enthusiast.
So, if you are keen to say ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ to find out more about the ABBA insiders guide to Stockholm, then you are in luck as you can not only visit the ABBA museum, but you can also follow in the footsteps of Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida and explore top-notch ABBA attractions throughout the city and beyond.
Ireland
The Emerald Isle unequivocally is the most successful country of all time when it comes to Eurovision. It holds the record for the most Eurovision wins; with a stellar seven wins since Ireland first entered the contest in 1965.
Ireland’s seven wins include Dana, Linda Martin and Johnny Logan who has won not just once, but twice which is a pretty impressive feat! In fact, they have won Eurovision three times in a row attaining the top spot in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
The vibrant city of Dublin has hosted Eurovision six times and of course Dublin is synonymous with music with the likes of U2, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison and Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy hailing from the Irish capital. If you are a music fan, Dublin serves up a plethora of musical treats.
From enjoying live music of all genres in the city’s pubs to paying a visit to the Irish Rock ’N’ Roll Museum by the Temple Bar where you can marvel at some of the coolest rock ‘n’ roll music memorabilia which includes a bass guitar and vintage band tees belonging to Phil Lynott.
Of course, a trip to Dublin would not be complete without a cheeky glass of whiskey or a pint of the black stuff. Whether you’re new to whiskey and want to know more or you’re a connoisseur on the hunt for that ‘unicorn’ whiskey, you can be sure to find it in Dublin.
Italy
Another Eurovision stalwart, Italy is another high flyer when it comes to singing success having won the contest three times.
Italy has also achieved a further top five placements making them one of the most victorious nations to take part in Eurovision.
Whilst more traditional songs have topped the vote, the most recent win was the Italian rock foursome ‘Maneskin’ who won the Eurovision Contest with their song ‘Zitti e Buoni’ in Rotterdam making it their third win in total.
The punk rockers have gone on to critical acclaim and are set to play Glastonbury this year having captivated audiences the world over.
Italy has hosted Eurovision three times in Naples, Turin and Rome in 1991. Rome is a cultural hot spot and despite being more synonymous with ancient sites and delicious food, The Eternal City also offers lots for fans of music.
From a night of mesmerising opera at the spectacular ‘Teatro dell’Opera’ and enjoying live blues music at one of the city’s standout venues ‘Big Mama’ to rocking out at the intimate ‘Sinister Noise Club’ where you can enjoy seeing some of the best indie, rock and alternative bands in the city.
UK
Liverpool is set to host the Eurovision song contest for the first time since the UK first participated in the competition in 1957.
The UK has taken part in 64 Eurovision contests and has won it five times, making them one of the most successful Eurovision winners of all times.
From Sandie Shaw in 1967 with the song ‘Puppet on a String’ to the eighties hitmakers Bucks Fizz with ‘Making Your Mind Up’ in 1981, the UK has a strong pedigree when it comes to Eurovision and has also achieved a record sixteen second-place finishes with the most recent being Sam Ryder with ‘Space Man’ who has subsequently gone on to international stardom and was nominated for Best New Act at the Brits earlier this year.
Despite only achieving the top position five times, the UK has hosted the competition eight times, having stepped in for other countries who were not able to host due to various issues. This has included Brighton, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Birmingham and London on three separate occasions.
The English capital offers a treasure trove of treats for music lovers, from walking across the most photographed locations in London for music fans – Abbey Road to watching some live music at the esteemed 100 Club where everyone from the likes of Blur to Paul Weller have played.
From fantastic food to some of the best museums and art galleries in the world, as Samuel Johnson says ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’.
When it comes to Liverpool, this has some pretty sound music credentials of its own. The city has a rich musical history, synonymous with The Beatles and has also been the place that has launched the career of the likes of The La’s, The Zutons and Circa Waves amongst others.
Israel
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest a total of 44 times since making its debut in 1973 in Luxembourg. Israel has won four times and subsequently hosted the Eurovision contest three times – once in Tel Aviv and twice in Jerusalem.
Eurovision has been won by two of the most memorable contestants in the contest’s history – Dana International in 1998 with ‘Diva’ and Netta with the quirky song ‘Toy’ in 2018.
Whether you favour Tel Aviv with its gorgeous beaches, incredible restaurants and vibrant nightlife or a visit to the holy city of Jerusalem where you can pay your respects at some of the holiest sites in the world as well as enjoying delicious food and some of the best nightlife in the country.
Israel is a superb destination for a getaway with or without the influence of Eurovision.
Austria
Austria has won the Eurovision song contest twice since its debut in 1957 in 1966 and 2014 which is the longest gap between consecutive wins for any country taking part in the competition.
Austria has not participated in every single competition and has missed eight of the years for varying reasons, but has produced one of the most famous winners of the Eurovision song contest of all times – Conchita Wurst with the rousing ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’ which received a mammoth 290 points.
The beautiful city of Vienna has much to celebrate when it comes to a magnificent musical heritage. In fact, when it comes to the music of Vienna, you can enjoy musical masterpieces almost every night. From watching a show at the Vienna Opera House to a more low key experience mit Strudel at Café Schwarzenberg.
Why not indulge your musical senses even further with a music tour where you can follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s most renowned classical musicians?
Norway
Whilst Norway has sometimes garnered a reputation for earning ‘nil points’ having finished last on eleven occasions, the Nordic country has also had several highs as well as the lows having achieved eleven top-five results in the contest.
Norway has also won on three separate occasions, most notably with Alexander Rybak’s ‘Fairytale’ in 2009 which topped the voting with 387 points.
Norway has hosted the Eurovision song contest three times – once in Bergen and twice in the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Absolutely chock-full of incredible restaurants, astounding architecture and top-notch attractions, Oslo hits the spot on so many levels and for culture vultures intoxicated by arts and music this is especially so.
From quirky music venues where you can see both local and international talent to some great, independent record shops, if you are a music lover and are heading to the Norwegian capital, you won’t be disappointed.
Funhouse makes for a great, low key option for fans of music. This unpretentious basement rock bar puts on a wide variety of gigs from punk to indie and is considered one of the best music venues in Oslo.
Denmark
Having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 50 times, Denmark has won three times: in 1963, 2000 and 2013, but has placed top five 14 times since it first took part in 1957. Denmark won the contest for the third time in 2013, with ‘Only Teardrops’ sung by Emmelie de Forest.
Similarly to Norway, Denmark has had mixed results in the competition notably having been relegated on three occasions in the 1990s.
The city of Copenhagen has hosted Eurovision on three occasions and has also been the host city for ‘Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest’ in 2005.
For Eurovision fans, a trip to the Danish capital will not disappoint and with an amazing abundance of incredible restaurants, superb cultural attractions and stunning natural green spaces, Copenhagen is a real feast for not just the eyes but for all of the senses.
When it comes to enjoying the music scene in Copenhagen, you can’t leave without paying a visit to Vega which is one of the best music venues in Europe.
All genres of music are catered for in Copenhagen, from electronica to jazz and as well as live music, there’s a fantastic selection of record shops, festivals and more to enjoy.
Netherlands
With a grand total of 62 appearances since making its Eurovision debut in 1956, The Netherlands has won and subsequently hosted the competition five times, most recently in 2021 in Rotterdam after the previous year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The Dutch city was the host after singer Duncan Laurence won the competition for the Netherlands for the first time since 1975. One of the other standout Dutch acts include duo The Common Linnets who narrowly missed out on winning in 2014 with ‘Calm After The Storm’.
Amsterdam was the host for the 1970 Eurovision, The Hague twice and Rotterdam has hosted the competition once as well as being the host for ‘Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light’ which was a replacement show in lieu of the cancelled Eurovision Song Contest in 2020.
Often likened to a ‘Dutch Brooklyn’, Rotterdam is sometimes considered a cooler cousin in comparison to Amsterdam. Not only does it have some very striking architecture, intriguing cafes and boutique shopping, but it has a thriving underground club and music scene.
From jazz and classical to techno and experimental, the Rotterdam music scene is diverse and vibrant in equal measure.
If you adore jazz and blues, make sure you head on over to BIRD which is one of the top music venues for music lovers and in particular jazz aficionados.
The venue’s name is an ode to Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker, the American jazz saxophonist and composer and whilst the roots of the music venue are in jazz, you can also enjoy gigs from a variety of venues including hip-hop, funk and more.
Finland
One of the more unusual Oscar-nominated films, EO follows the life of a donkey that was born into a Polish circus.
Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, it was inspired by Robert Bresson’s 1966 film Au Hasard Balthazar and aims to highlight the plight of animals and the suffering that they are subjected to mistreatment.
This compelling story aims to encourage viewers to re-examine their attitudes toward animals and was filmed in various film locations including a variety of remote towns and villages in Poland as well as filming some scenes close to the Polish capital Warsaw. The film was also shot in different film locations in Italy including Rome and Sicily.
