Which European Cities Should a Single Man Visit?

Most any single man will find that Amsterdam has much to offer.Being a single man in Europe is like being a kid in a candy store. No matter your interests or lifestyle or sexual orientation, something in the vast array of cultures, languages, entertainment and climates that Europe has to offer will certainly appeal to you. The friendly lack of boundaries in many European cities make it easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger, while the shadows and formality of other more proper cities can ensure your solitude. AmsterdamAmsterdam is culturally rich and strikingly beautiful. A city of canals and museums, cafes and pubs and a raucous nightlife, Amsterdam is one of Europe's most lifestyle-tolerant cities. Straight or gay, a single man will find much to do in Amsterdam. The many canals and public boat transportation make it easy to get around the city. The open and friendly Dutch will happily chat with you at an open-air canal-side pub, and will do so even more happily at one of the many coffee shops where marijuana and hashish are legal. If you're looking for some reflective alone time, cultural gems like the Anne Frank House, the Rembrandt National Museum and the Van Gogh National Museum can all be reached easily from most any central city hotel. Booming nightclubs line the canals and side streets after dark. If you're feeling lonely or voyeuristic, the city's (in)famous red light district makes for an entertaining apres-club stroll. DublinIf you are looking for a more laid back urban experience, Dublin fits the bill. Apart from the days when one of the city's large events, such as St. Patrick's Day or the Dublin Film Festival, are occurring, Dublin feels relatively uncrowded and easy to get around in. A pint of ale at a pub will invite conversation from the easygoing Irish patrons. Visit one the city's many parks, such as St. Stephen's Green, or museums like the National Gallery of Ireland, for some solitude or cultural edification. Tour the Old Jameson Distillery to gain insight into the secrets of Irish Whiskey or Dublin Castle for a more historical perspective. After dark, Temple Bar offers a wide array of entertainment options. If the city is a little too laid back, kayaking, hiking, climbing and fishing destinations abound within an hour's drive or bus trip. Bunmahon, on the south coast near Waterford, is a top-notch beach break if you feel up to some cold water surfing with friendly locals. A wetsuit is a must. BarcelonaFreer and looser than Spain's stuffier capital, Madrid, open and tolerant Barcelona has much to offer the single male tourist. Cheap and easy train transportation (the Metro) makes all points of the city easily accessible, but walking will allow you to drink in much of the city's famous Antonio Gaudi architecture, like the Sagrada Familia temple and La Pedrera (formerly known as Casa Mila). Visit the Picasso and Miro museums for a cultural fix. Casual tapas bars offer small bites and the opportunity for conversations over glasses of local wine. If soccer is your passion, check out the Barcelona FC Museum and stadium tour to get up close and personal with the city's professional football club. If museums start to wear you out, relax at one of several city beaches. On popular Barceloneta Beach you can swim, sunbathe or strike up a conversation at one of the beach huts. The siesta is a serious thing in Spain because the nightlife starts late and ends early in Barcelona. Typically, restaurants don't start to get busy until around 10 p.m. A hotbed of new Spanish cuisine, Barcelona is home to renowned restaurants like ABaC and Comerc 24. Work off your gastronomic excesses at one of the venues in the city's pulsing club scene, like the five-room Razzmatazz or the more industrial Moog. Clubs close in time for breakfast at 5 a.m.