Rome, Paris, London, Berlin. Everyone wants to visit the most famous cities in Europe, and everyone like that to visit them. Of course you need to experience these places. They have historical significance, modern luxuries, and the biggest boxes on the travel checklist. But Europe's top attractions are also often its most crowded and expensive travel destinations. Hundreds of other worthwhile European cities beyond the spotlight are just as fascinating, often much less expensive, and packed at any time of year. You'll never see them all, but some are definitely worth keeping on your radar.
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If you're going to part with a solid pile of dough on a European road trip, why not put some of the money toward a few less obvious spots that feel like your own great discoveries? Here are our 10 favorite European cities that fall between the cracks. They may not be considered A-list by most travelers (who don't know them) and in fact these hidden spots are better for it. Not only do they deserve a visit, but each could host your best secret European getaway ever.
Malmo, Sweden
If you fly to Copenhagen and take the train from the opposite direction of the city, you will find yourself in a completely different city and country: Malmö, Sweden. And like Copenhagen, it has (less crowded) public city beaches, a photo-ready harbour, and contrasts of old and new. You'll visit a 16th-century castle and castle, a 14th-century Gothic church, and enjoy the view of the Turning Torso, a skyscraper that rotates a full 90 degrees from base to tip.
Inverness, Scotland
Nestled in the lush Highlands, Inverness is your overnight destination for any journey through Scotland. After visiting the city's early 19th-century castle, you'll head to Loch Ness or the Macallan distillery on the brand's nearby grounds for a hopeful encounter with Nessie. If whiskey isn't your thing, head around the Cairngorms National Park to Daffy's Gin Distillery.
Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Everyone and their brothers go to Lisbon and Porto, and many stop at the volcanic Azores islands on the way. Madeira is Portugal's less discussed destination, with the capital, Funchal, located on its main island (north of the Canary Islands and Tenerife, near the northwest coast of Africa). From Funchal, you can cruise around the entire island, hike above the clouds and go all the way to the island's narrowest, most panoramic peninsulas. Although its beaches are rocky, a day trip by ferry to Porto Santo is the perfect way to lie on the sand.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam attracts all the attention, but that's exactly the problem: It is flooded with tourists. If you want the same quality-of-life bliss with quirky bike rides, farm-to-table freshness, and world-class architectural marvels (like the famous cube houses, New Luxor Theater, Erasmus Bridge, and loaf-like market hall)—you need to head to Rotterdam. This is an urban utopia, its quirkiness not diluted one bit.
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark
Tórshavn is your gateway to the entire Faroe Islands, and the largest city in the Danish territory has a population of over 20,000 people. It is also one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, located about halfway between Norway and Iceland. Although most of your trip will be spent taking in the islands' otherworldly landscapes, Tórshavn offers plenty of comforts, including cafes, bars and live music. It gets especially idyllic at Christmas time, when locally made outerwear is well stocked and festive food vendors line the town's streets.
Lucerne, Switzerland
It's never a bad time to visit Lucerne, although your experience will vary greatly depending on timing. Summers are designed for swimming in the lake or hiking around the Alps. While alpine skiing is a winter must-have, easy rides in the old town are relaxing all year round. If your US choice is Telluride or Park City, then Lucerne is your European rival.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is an up-and-coming Baltic capital that rivals its Scandinavian neighbor for quirk and intrigue, though it deserves more than a day trip from nearby Helsinki. The red-roofed Hanseatic port city, with its all-Baroque and medieval architecture, exports some of the world's brightest engineers and businessmen while importing more curious tourists every year.
Tbilisi, Georgia
The secret is revealed in Tbilisi, but it barely makes it onto this list, probably due to its distance from the rest of Europe. (To get there, you'll need to fly via Turkey in Asia.) Between the sulfur baths, 4th-century castle, popular shopping district, and modern-day Orthodox cathedral, you'll get a taste of the history and culture of hilly Tbilisi. future. And speaking of flavor, you'll wash it all down with the famous orange wine, which pairs beautifully with meatballs, kebabs, skewers and more.
Girona, Catalonia, Spain
A short train ride from Barcelona to Catalonia (probably your starting point if you flew with Ryan Air), Girona is a medieval wonder well worth a visit. game of Thrones scouts (and a much less trafficked one than Dubrovnik). You may recognize Girona's walled, winding city center or the steps leading to the Gothic cathedral. Spend a night here and the next day head to Figueres, Salvador Dalí's home (and final resting place). Visit the self-designed Theater Museum and jewelry collection museum for one of the most interesting, fun museum experiences you'll ever have.
Ghent, Belgium
Get your Instagram going because picturesque Ghent is as beautiful as the photos. It is a medieval port town with a 12th-century castle, a vibrant university population and the famous riverside Graslei (a row of guild houses in the city centre). For its young crowd, Ghent competes with Belgium's hip capital, Antwerp, with its multitude of museums and new restaurants attracting tourists and Belgian visitors. It makes for an easy day trip from Brussels.
