6 Best But Underrated European Destinations
Paris, Rome, and Barcelona are well-known destinations, their crowds have grown to the point where “viewing” them occasionally requires waiting in line behind fifty other people who are holding up phones at the same site. However, while providing the same medieval charm, spectacular landscape and rich history – just without the crowds and some truly breathtaking regions of Europe hardly make an impression on most tourists.
Six places in Europe that are frequently disregarded but never fail to amaze those who do travel there.
1. Bosnia, Mostar and Herzegovina
After seeing it you will see it is very perplexing that Mostar receives only a small portion of the summertime influx of tourists that swarm neighboring Croatia. The Stari Most is a very beautiful 16th century stone bridge that arches high over the emerald green Neretva River and is the main point of the city. It is well known for the generation’s old tradition of local divers jumping from it into the water below for tips.
The ancient town surrounding the bridge is truly a lovely blend of skyline speckled with minarets, cobblestone alleys lined with copper workshops and architecture from the Ottoman era. Also Mostar has a richer past. A large portion of the old town including the bridge itself was destroyed during the Bosnian War in the 1990s and rebuilt later. This history is there but not overpowering for tourists. The food is great in taste and reasonably priced with a focus on grilled meats, fresh bread and strong coffee. Prices are still very low than in Croatia which is only across the border.
2. Sibiu, Romania
Sibiu is one of the most picturesque and most populated cities in Eastern Europe also most people only think of Dracula legends when they think of Transylvania. The town’s main plaza is decorated with pastel colored baroque houses many of which have tiny oval “eye” windows nestled into their roofs, giving the entire area a whimsical, wary vibe.
Sibiu’s well maintained old town, museums, and walkable historic center all reflect the investment made during its time as the European Capital of Culture. With the magnificent Transfăgĩăæan mountain route and the fortified churches of the surrounding area both accessible for a day excursion, it is also a truly useful base for exploring the larger Transylvania region. Sibiu is an easy destination to eat and stay well without spending a lot of money because prices are still among the lowest in the EU.
3. Piran, Slovenia
Piran appears to have been flown directly out of Venice, Slovenia’s shoreline is quite small just a sliver when compared to its neighbors Italy and Croatia which is likely why it remains so silent. Venetian Gothic structures in soft pastel colors border the shoreline. A vestige of the decades that the Venetians governed this stretch of shore. Narrow twisting alleyways lead onto a harbor full of fishing boats.
For an expensive view of the Adriatic, climb to the bell tower or the medieval town walls. Then return below for fresh seafood at a fraction of the price of nearby Venice. Piran is compact enough to see everything in a single day without ever feeling like you are missing anything and it is especially good as a day trip from Ljubljana or a stop on a longer Slovenia Croatia coastline route.
4. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
The town of the same name is situated on the edge of Lake Ohrid there is one of Europe’s oldest lakes. Climbing the slope above the lake is a historic town listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are numerous Byzantine churches throughout the town some of which are over a millenium old. The stunning Church of St. John at Kaneo which is rarely known to anybody outside the area and is positioned abruptly on a cliff edge right above the lake which is one of the most photographed spots in the country.
The town offers a very relaxed lakeside resort atmosphere in the summer without the expense or crowds of more well known lake resorts in Switzerland or Italy. Explore the medieval cobblestone alleys also bathe in the lake’s crystal clear water, and eat freshly caught trout for a more leisurely and affordable version of the classic “European lake town” experience.
5. Albarracín, Spain
Away in the hills of the Aragón area where Albarracín is more like a dream drawing than a real community. The whole village clings to a steep hillside that is connected by small medieval alleyways that wound up towards a ruined castle at the top. There are houses made of a unique reddish pink stone that glows specifically brilliantly at dusk.
Because it’s a couple of hours from the next large city, Albarracín sees a minuscule fraction of the visitors that flood Spain’s better known towns which means you can explore its streets in near total calm even in high season. Renting a car from Valencia or Zaragoza is the best way to get there, and it goes nicely with a longer road trip in inland Spain a region that most foreign tourists completely avoid in favor of the coast.
6. Poland’s Gdańsk
The Baltic coast of Poland receives less attention than Kraków or Warsaw so Gdańsk is a home to some of the most stunning architecture in the nation. As a reminder of the city’s past as a prosperous Hanseatic trading port. Ulica Dáva is lined with tall, elaborately adorned merchant buildings in a rainbow of hues.
Beyond the old town Gdańsk has historical significance as the swing of the Solidarity movement that contributed to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. This history is covered in its top notch museums without feeling like a dull history lesson. Because the city is located directly on the Baltic shore seeing the beach is a true element of a trip to Gdańsk and does not require you to travel elsewhere. For a city with so much architecture and history crammed within a walkable old town and prices are still among the most affordable in the EU.
Concluding Remarks:
All six of these locations offer an experience that feels more authentic since they have not yet been reduced to a checklist tourist destination; none of them necessitate compromising history, or delicious cuisine in order to avoid the throng. Any one of these six is a clear indication that there are still lots of lesser-known spots on the continent to see, frequently for less money than the well-known brands nearby, if your previous European travels have felt more like crowd control than sightseeing.