After Midnight in 10 European Cities

Whether it's lingering over a glass of absinthe in a smoky Barcelona bar, exploring a London market at 4 a.m. or simply taking a stroll down Venice's curiously quiet nocturnal streets, Europe's after-midnight pleasures are many and diverse. Ten contributors to The New York Times Travel Section reveal their favorite late-night activities.



Athens
High on a Hill, With an Acropolis View

By JOANNA KAKISSIS
Late night is what electrifies the view from Lycabettus Hill, with the Parthenon glowing like a crown jewel.


Barcelona
Absinthe and Atmosphere

By LISA ABEND
There is no shortage of late-night places in Barcelona, but 200-year-old Marsella feels more late-night than most.


Berlin
On This Stage, Every Dancer Is a Player

By ANDREAS TZORTZIS
At Clärchen’s Ballhaus you can dance a tango on parquet floors, grind to James Brown or drink wine in the haunted atmosphere of the Mirror Salon.


Copenhagen
Late at Night, Wholesomeness Sleeps

By SETH SHERWOOD
When the rustic charms of Copenhagen become too cloying, a gorgeously debauched side of the city awaits in its myriad dive bars.


Lisbon
A House of Soulful Songs

By SETH SHERWOOD
When night settles over Lisbon, the city’s venerable fado houses come alive.

London
Early in the Morning Where the Working Class Works

By JENNIFER CONLIN
At 4 or 5 a.m., New Covent Garden offers a glimpse of another side of London.


Moscow
An All-Nighter With a Good Book or Two

By SOPHIA KISHKOVSKY
These days even bookstores are staying open round the clock, doing justice to Russia’s historical love of literature.


Paris
Cue and Rack, and Maybe a Gin Fizz

By ELAINE SCIOLINO
You can dine late and well near Les Halles before heading to a former 19th-century gambler’s haunt for a game of pool.


Prague
A Movable Fest

By EVAN RAIL
Party hard on a traditional Prague tram — replete with D.J.’s and two mobile bars — before moving on to your next stop.


Venice
Wandering Hushed, Dimly Lit Passageways

By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
There is no better way to allow Venice’s intrinsic beauty to cast its spell than to wander its dark, quiet byways

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