Why Travel Insiders Are Ditching Paris & Rome for These Lesser-Known European Havens

As a travel writer who has spent more than seven years exploring Europe’s most famous spots, I know how hard it is to stay away from famous places like Paris, Rome, and London. The pictures of the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, and Big Ben that look like they belong on a postcard are definitely appealing. Read below about “Why Travel Insiders Are Ditching Paris & Rome for These Lesser-Known European Havens”.

But after going to these touristy cities more than once, I learned they can be too commercial, crazy, and tiring to fully enjoy. Don’t get me wrong—these places should be on the list of everyone who goes to Europe. But visiting some less well-known spots will let you enjoy Europe’s beauty at a slower pace.

Why Travel Insiders Are Ditching Paris & Rome for These Lesser-Known European Havens

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to find small towns that are just as beautiful, cultural, delicious, and full of life as the big names. As a travel reporter, I’ve been to more than 15 countries and explored them on the ground. It’s through these experiences that I’ve found hidden gems in Europe that other tourists are slowly finding.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic: The Medieval Town From a Fairy Tale

I took a day trip to Český Krumlov while I was in Prague because some locals told me to. This town is only a 3-hour bus ride away and has cobblestone streets and a stunning castle from the 1300s that will take you back to medieval Europe.

The UNESCO World Heritage site is in a sharp bend in the Vltava River. There are many shops and restaurants right on the water where you can eat outside. One of the best parts was drinking Czech beer and looking at the castle from the riverbank. In addition to the picture-postcard-perfect Old Town, Cesky Krumlov has a lively arts scene with strange museums and shows.

How to Get to Burano, Italy: The Rainbow Island of Venice

I saw the brightly colored buildings of the island of Burano in the distance while riding a boat through Venice’s canals. I had to go see this colorful fishing town with its rainbow-colored homes lining the calm canals. It only takes 40 minutes to get to Burano by boat from Venice. It’s a nice place to get away from all the tourists.

This cute island has fewer than 1,000 people living on it, but it gets some tourists who are interested in its colorful buildings and history of making lace. As I walked along the streets without cars, I stopped by studios where local women made lace, looked around the small shops that sold handmade Burano lace, and enjoyed the 16th-century homes that sparkled in the canals.

I could really enjoy the island’s customs of happiness and craftsmanship when I wasn’t busy with work. From the leaning bell tower to the piazzas covered in vines to the fresh seafood, Burano’s fishing town charm and technicolor beauty won my heart.

Gdansk, Poland: The Jewel of the Baltic

Most people who come to Poland go straight to Krakow or Warsaw, but the city on the coast of Gdansk is just as interesting. Gdansk is only a short flight or 5-hour train ride from Warsaw. Its location on the Baltic Sea and well-preserved medieval buildings make it a popular tourist destination.

As I walked through the Old Town’s picture-perfect streets for the first time at night, I couldn’t believe that this Baltic paradise wasn’t already packed with tourists. I went to the 14th-century brick St. Mary’s Basilica and found secret cafés in alleyways. I also walked along part of the harborfront Amber Route that runs along the Motława River.

Besides the historic center, Gdansk has a lively modern scene for arts, food, and music. The National Museum has an amazing collection of art and artifacts. Gdansk has a very long and interesting past that is often forgotten. It is home to the huge shipyard that started the Solidarity movement and the medieval city gates that are still standing.

Riga, Latvia: The Cosmopolitan Baltic Capital

Many people who travel to the Baltic countries plan their trips so that they only stop in Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania. They don’t usually stop in Riga, Latvia. But after visiting all three recently, Riga wowed me the most with its right mix of medieval Old Town beauty and modern culture.

Riga is beautiful as soon as you land. It’s only a short flight from most of Europe’s big towns. I was amazed by how the big Art Nouveau houses along the Daugava River sparkled in the sun. Besides its famous buildings, Riga has a huge food scene, great museums in buildings that are hundreds of years old, a new craft beer movement, and cool secret bars with live music.

Riga gets a lot of tourists, but it doesn’t feel crowded or crazy. It was fun to explore the quieter areas, like Agenskalns and the Moscow District, which is full of beautiful Art Nouveau buildings. Riga kept surprising me with all of its different charms, from the beautiful sunsets over the Daugava River to the city’s interesting Cold War past.

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro: The Adriatic’s Hidden Gem

As I made plans for my trip through the Balkans, I kept seeing beautiful pictures of Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor but not much useful information. But the Bay’s stunning beauty far topped all of my wildest hopes when I saw it. This narrow bay off the Adriatic Sea completely captured me with its rough cliffs, marinas full of yachts, and cute seaside towns all around the bay.

The high limestone rocks surround the medieval town of Kotor, which is at the very end of the bay. As I walked through the stone maze of alleys and piazzas, I saw many orthodox churches and Romanesque palaces that showed how different empires had shaped this area over the years.

The Bay of Kotor has all the beauty of the Adriatic without the high prices and huge crowds of Dubrovnik, Croatia, which is just up the coast. Montenegro’s secret bay jewel is hard to beat for a cheap getaway in the Mediterranean with beautiful scenery.

Ljubljana, Slovenia: Europe’s Coolest Capital

Slovenia is located between Italy and Croatia, so it is often only a short stop on road trips in Central Europe. Ljubljana, the city, isn’t seen enough and deserves a lot more than just a day trip. With its Habsburg architecture, hipster cafés, new food, and lots of green areas, this city of only 300,000 people packs a serious punch.

The most interesting thing about walking around Ljubljana for me was how full of young people and creative ideas the streets were. College students drink espresso drinks under beautiful arches, and bicycles zip through plazas that are only for pedestrians. As jazz artists play on the street, the Ljubljanica River flows slowly under the famous Triple Bridge.

Ljubljana is proof that big things can come in small packages. This capital city has more culture, food, and charm than almost any other city in Europe.

Thessaloniki, Greece: History and Culture Beyond the Islands

Like most people who come to Santorini to see the sunset, I had never heard of Thessaloniki, which is Greece’s second city. But when a Greek coworker told me it was her favorite place in Greece, I chose to include it in my next trip. This lively port city totally changed how I thought about Greece besides the beautiful islands.

Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman bathhouses are all parts of Thessaloniki’s 2,300-year past that make up the city’s fabric. This mix of cultures is best shown by the White Tower waterfront symbol. I climbed up to the Upper Town, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the well-preserved fortress walls and arcaded streets, I could see amazing views of the city.

I recommend Thessaloniki if you want to learn about Greece’s history and culture without going from island to island. This eclectic haven shows how the country’s character has been shaped by centuries of empires.

The Time is Now to Discover Europe’s Hidden Havens

Sure, as travel writers we also love checking off our bucket lists at well-known places like Paris and Venice. But discovering hidden gems often leads to even more unique and special moments. When you get away from the crowds, you have time to really enjoy each stop at a slower pace.

I used to tell first-time visitors to Europe to visit the same famous but overwhelming places, but now I suggest they add in a few of these underrated gems. Trust me, when you get back home you’ll have a better understanding of all of Europe’s wonderful qualities. There is a hidden gem for every type of traveler and interest, from those who want to visit interesting cities or storybook towns, seaside villages or mountain hideaways. I hope you like reading “Why Travel Insiders Are Ditching Paris & Rome for These Lesser-Known European Havens”.

This means that when you plan your next big trip in Europe, be open to the unexpected and go where the people go. Take these hidden gems off the beaten path to see parts of Europe that only people who are dying to travel know about. Have you been to any lesser-known European places that wowed you? Share your thoughts below! I am always looking for the next great thing to find in Europe.