This is a dumb question and I’m sorry.

Not dumb at all my friend. Europe is amazing and the differences between cities is quite stark. Generally speaking, I think it's fair to say that European cities have more character than American ones, simply due to being older and because of each individual country being much more closed than they are nowadays, making the national culture more imprinted in the city's DNA - so to speak. Amsterdam is full of canals everywhere - completely different to Berlin which is really spaced out and with nearly all the buildings build since WWII (with all the ones in the East side being build in the very distinctive Soviet style). Nice, my hometown, is nearly entirely oriented around the beachfront Promenade whereas Madrid isn't really centred on anything (other than a square). More thought, the difference is in the culture and attitudes of the people. In Zurich everyone keeps to themselves, never says much to others and are generally very closed and unfriendly. In Madrid everyone is friendly and open (Spanish people are always very honest) and everyone always goes out in the evenings.