My Favorite *Underrated* European Cities

Especially if it’s your first time on the European continent, you might be thinking of hitting the hot spots, including London, Paris, and Rome (which I consider the “European Trifecta,” drawing in more visitors than any other cities in Europe). Although these big cities are always crowded, they serve as a good introduction to each country visited, and perhaps inspire more trips in the imminent future.

Living abroad in Europe the last few years has allowed me to get out and explore this small, but culturally-diverse and rich continent. Besides visiting the big cities, I’ve also explored smaller towns and villages which offered so much insight into the countries themselves. There have been many places I’ve visited which I would love to return to, and I hope to someday soon.

That said, when it comes to classifying what’s considered an “underrated city,” it can be difficult. In fact, I’ve been seeing this trend nowadays in that travelers are looking for “off-the-beaten-path” places to visit, which in turn leads to the place itself becoming increasingly touristy– after all, that is what’s happening with cities like Reykjavik or Bergen. Some might consider this problematic, e.g. being overcrowded, ruining nature and historical artifacts, but at the same time it does wonders for the economy, particularly if the city or country is developing.

…but getting back to what an “underrated city” really means…

In my opinion, I consider an “underrated city” to be one that actually has tourists, but not necessarily with the overwhelming crowds. People might have heard of them, but probably don’t know much about them. Sometimes they’re skipped for another city to visit, and other times they’re overlooked altogether. However, if given a chance, I believe that travelers will love them, perhaps even more than the bigger cities!

I’ve decided to compile a list of my top-five underrated destinations in Europe worth visiting. While this list might be short, I hope to add more to it in later posts, once I find more of them to discuss. Until then, here are my favorite underrated European cities to check out!

My 5 Favorite Underrated Cities in Europe

1. Gdańsk, Poland

Many people who desire to visit Poland might just choose Warsaw and/or Kraków– as a result, Gdańsk often gets overlooked. However, it’s a beautiful city situated along the Baltic Sea, with a colorful harbor and a just-as-colorful Old Town behind its medieval fortifications. Not too far is Westerplatte, a district located on the Baltic Coast where the first big clash between the German and Polish forces occurred during WWII. Aside from its beautiful architecture and military history, Gdańsk is also surprisingly calm, as I found the atmosphere quieter and slower-paced than in bigger cities.

2. Heidelberg, Germany

A university town, Heidelberg is also a gorgeous place nestled within the Rhine Rift Valley, offering plenty of nature walks close to its center, including the famous “Philosopher’s Walk” (which I highly recommend). Its Baroque-style Old Town is also charming, and it’s not too large to stroll through its cobblestone streets. The Heidelberg Castle is worth a visit, especially for sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and Neckar River. Although it still has plenty of tourists, Heidelberg hasn’t quite caught up to others like Berlin or Munich, which still makes it a low-key place to see in Germany.

3. Lucerne, Switzerland

Of the Swiss cities I’ve visited so far, Lucerne remains my favorite by far. Its famous Chapel Bridge, along with the Lion Monument, are the highlights, but its stunning views of the Alps in the distance are also too good not to miss. It gets its fair share of visitors each year, but I still found it quite understated, compared with Geneva or Zurich. Even when I went during its Carnival, it still wasn’t crazy-packed, and I was able to slow down and enjoy my time sightseeing around.

4. Toulouse, France

Interestingly, my first visit to Toulouse didn’t impress me. However, when I returned two years later, my mind changed completely. While it’s true that Toulouse doesn’t contain nearly the same amount of sites to see like in Paris, it does have a distinctive charm and atmosphere which made me fall in love with French culture even more. The French who live there are probably one of the kindest in the country, and I find their accent toulousain endearing. It’s la ville rose (the “Pink City”), offering red-brick buildings and unassuming, but dazzling interior architecture to keep you exploring for days.

5. Zagreb, Croatia

Prior to visiting, I’d gotten advice on whether to visit Zagreb. Many who’d gone said that it wasn’t really worth staying more than a night but, upon arriving in the Croatian capital, I ended up staying three nights and loving every minute of it. Zagreb is unlike its coastal counterparts like Dubrovnik or Split, in that it’s situated inland and has a predominant Austro-Hungarian history (unlike the coastal’s Italian influence). The Old Town is small, but filled with hole-in-the-wall restaurants, quirky museums, and plenty of green space to enjoy on a warm day. At least a pass-through Zagreb would be worth it!

 

What are your favorite underrated destinations in Europe? Let me know, as I’m always looking for new places to travel to!