10 Beautiful and Underrated Places to Visit in Europe

Europe boasts many incredible destinations across the 44 countries on the continent. There are many popular cities for tourists such as London, Paris, Rome, Portugal, and Amsterdam. But, there are so many underrated places to visit in Europe that offer similar activities and vibes to the popular cities, with much less tourists! If you’ve read my blog about Corn Islands, Nicaragua, you know I love to find these off the beaten path destinations!

My first couple overseas trips were to Italy, Greece, Germany, and Spain. I instantly fell in love with the beauty and the history of European cities. A couple years later, I packed up and travelled to Europe solo for 6-weeks, exploring more off the beaten path European cities. I then fell even more in love! The popular European destinations will always have a special place in my heart, but I now tend to recommend more of the underrated places in Europe for people to visit.

These off-the-beaten-path cities are filled with history, unique food, fascinating currencies, and are much cheaper than the main tourist cities. Take a look at the list I’ve put together my top underrated places to visit in Europe!

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1. Troy, Turkey

Turkey definitely places in my top 10 favourite countries I’ve ever visited. Typically, people explore the cultural city of Istanbul when visiting the country. About 5 hours from the city lies the Ancient City of Troy. If you are a fan of history or archaeology, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is definitely the place to visit. With over 4,000 years of history and 140 years of excavation campaigns, the ruins unveil an ancient city that lays in ruins but offer insight into the incredible history of this area.

The city is said to have been destroyed multiple times through wars, but a new city was always rebuilt on top of it. Little remains of the original city of Troy, except for a city wall. Throughout the years, the city was abandoned and reinhabited multiple times. You may have heard of this city through legends of the Trojan war, where a giant wooden horse carried Greek warriors into Troy to recover a woman named Helen. Helen was said to be the wife of the King of Sparta who ran away with the Prince of Troy! This triggered a war that is said to have lasted 10 years!

If the history of the Ancient City of Troy has sparked your interest, you can read more about it here.

2. Kavala, Greece

When visiting Greece, the majority of people opt to visit the capital city of Athens or adventure through the picturesque islands in the Aegean Sea. In the lesser travelled Northern Greece lies the beautiful harbour city of Kavala. The city is the main seaport of the region, with buildings edged into the hills surrounding the harbour. The original name of this city was “Neapolis” (New City) and was founded in the 7th century.

The charming city boasts fascinating archaeological sites, beautiful views atop the mountains, and interesting activities such as mud baths! And since the city is along the water, you bet there are great seafood restaurants. Kavala is truly a gem and allows you to experience less-touristy Greece, while still indulging in the beauty and history that the country has to offer.

3. Sofia, Bulgaria

It is not often that you hear of friends or family visiting Bulgaria, but it’s capital city is a notable addition to any list of underrated places to visit in Europe. The city is filled with parks that are lively with festivals and activities during the Spring to Fall seasons. Famous for it’s mineral springs, the city has many mineral water fountains around the city where you can fill up your water bottle. Or, you can opt to hang with locals at the hot springs!

This is a great destination for conscious travellers, with very affordable accommodations (~$40/night) and food (~$5-9 a plate). And better yet, you can find a glass of wine or a beer for less than $1!

Wandering through the city, you will be amazed by beautiful architecture of buildings such as the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Sofia is truly a hidden gem that you must add to your European bucket list!

4. Heidelberg, Germany

The charming town of Heidelberg, Germany is the country’s oldest and most famous university town. The town is situated along a river, with a castle on top of the hill overseeing the town. Wandering around the town, you can admire beautiful Gothic and Baroque churches, grab a drink at one of the social bars, or relax at a park by the river. As with many places in Germany, the town has incredible Christmas markets during the holidays!

5. Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is located between Switzerland and Austria, with an area of a whopping 62 square miles. The beautiful country is the only country in the world that is fully situated within the Alpine region. But, despite the beautiful area, it is almost the least visited country in Europe!

The country certainly has some interesting facts, including:

• It has the highest per capita GDP in the world.
• The city hasn’t had an army since 1868
• Once a year, all the residents are invited to have a beer in the garden of Vaduz Castle.
• It is the world’s leading manufacturer of false teeth
• At one point, you could rent out the entire country for $70,000 a night!

The capital city of Vaduz only has about 5,500 inhabitants. The city boasts stunning architecture and delicious food, but is definitely very expensive. Opt to stay in the city for 1-2 nights to get a taste of what Liechtenstein has to offer!

6. Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Switzerland is top of many people’s bucket lists as the Swiss Alps boast incredible natural beauty. You cannot go wrong with visiting any city in the country! Situated between two beautiful lakes is Interlaken, said to be the adventure capital of Switzerland. Here, you can partake in rafting, skydiving, bungee jumping, explore caves, and go on glorious hikes through the mountains.

In Interlaken, you can take a scenic 2-hour train ride to Jungfrau, known as the “Top of Europe”. The views from the highest train station in Europe are unforgettable. You can even try out tubing or skiing down parts of the Swiss Alps!

Nearby Interlaken is the beautiful village of Lauterbrunnen. The small mountain village is home to over 72 waterfalls and stunning valleys situated in the Swiss Alps. It is definitely worth visiting this village due to the scenery alone! You can imagine how charming accommodations are here, allowing you to wake up to views like that!

7. Skopje, Macedonia

I visited Skopje on my 26-day Eastern European adventure back in 2015. My memories there are so vivid due to the extremely diverse architecture styles around the city, interesting history, and wild amount of monuments. It was also where I got my cheapest pizza in Europe, coming in at a whopping 1 Euro!

Skopje is the capital city of Macedonia, where 25% of the country lives. The city is quite interesting, with real pirate ships along the water, a mini Arc de Triomphe, statues everywhere, and incredible cafés. It truly is a unique spot on my list of underrated places to visit in Europe!

8. Split, Croatia

The city of Split is the second-largest city in Croatia, and is nestled on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. The city has a great mix of old and new architecture. It is filled with history and incredible food! You can opt to take a stroll along the palm tree lined Riva Promenade and then visit the historic centre to learn a bit more about the city’s history.

The historic centre of Split is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You cannot miss Diocletian’s Palace, a stunning palace built in 305 AD for a Roman Emperor. I definitely have Split on my list of cities that I want to visit again!

9. Podgorica, Montenegro

I visited Podgorica for only a day, but it had me wanting to go back. I found it fascinating that the city has been inhabited since the 5th century!

You can opt to relax by the stunning lake, drink at the largest unbroken winery in Europe, hike by the river, or explore ruins around the city. You won’t run into many tourists when wandering around, allowing you to experience the true culture of the city. It definitely isn’t a city to stay in for an extended period of time, but a worthwhile stop on your adventure through Eastern Europe!

10. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This charming town is quite the picturesque area in the South of the Czech Republic. You can visit a stunning castle and learn about the town’s medieval history, as the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It is quite the small town though – you are able to walk from one side of the town to the other in 20-minutes!

The town is filled with charming hotels and B&Bs suitable for a variety of budgets. Although the town is small, there are plenty of lively bars and cafés to visit. It is a bit far to do in a day trip from Prague, but definitely worth a 1-2 night visit!

What would you recommend as one of your top underrated places to visit in Europe? Let me know in the comments!

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