10 european destinations off the beaten path

10 European Destinations Off The Beaten Path

There are so many famous European travel destinations. In this post, we will not write about Prague or Paris. We will not cherish Rome or London. Berlin is not on our list either. No, here we have listed 10 European destinations off the beaten path. It is 10 places that we have tried and tested – and we enjoyed them all very much.

10 European Destinations Off The Beaten Path

Brescia, Italy

10. Brescia, Italy

Thinking of a trip to Italy? Forget Milan and Rome, go to Brescia! This is the industrial capital of Italy and it is an exciting mix of history and the contemporary. You can easily spend a day here after or before visiting other great places in the area, such as Verona, Lake Como, or Valpolicella.

Read more about Brescia >> 

Vilnius, Lithuania

9. Vilnius, Lithuania

The capital of Lithuania is an artsy gem. It’s a medieval town with a cosmopolitan touch – and with a lot of history. It has one of the largest Old Towns in Europe, an impressive castle, as well as a lot of cultural events all year around.

Read more about Vilnius >> 

Sigulda, Latvia

8. Sigulda, Latvia

The capitals of the Baltic countries are all fantastic cities. But, if you have the chance, go off the beaten path and visit some of the other towns and villages as well. Sigulda is the perfect destination if you find yourself with some spare time in Riga. Why? Think old castles, picturesque nature, steep rocks and deep caves. It’s only one hour on the train from Riga as well.

Read more about Sigulda >>

Mariefred, Sweden

7. Mariefred, Sweden

The best place to enjoy the Swedish summer is one with old wooden houses, a lot of nature, water nearby, and ice-cream kiosks. This description fits a lot of places, with Mariefred being one of them. You can go there by boat (or train) from Stockholm. During the same visit, you can visit some interesting art galleries and according to us one of Sweden’s most beautiful castles.

Read more about Mariefred >>

Olomouc, Czech Republic

6. Olomouc, Czech Republic

OK, so you decided to visit the Czech Republic anyway. At least go to Olomouc! This is the historical capital of Moravia and it offers visitors all the good things that the Czech Republic is famous for. Good beer (and wine!), history, tasty food, and the list goes on.

Read more about Olomouc >> 

Bratislava, Slovakia

5. Bratislava, Slovakia

We may be partial but we think that Bratislava should be on the list of the top 10 European destinations off the beaten path. Firstly, few people seem to know Slovakia at all – which is a great pity. In Bratislava, you can expect good food, delicious wines, very reasonable prices, a cozy old town, and fabulous museums and cafés.

Read more about Bratislava >> 

Zaragoza, Spain

4. Zaragoza, Spain

Folklore, local gastronomy, and world-famous landmarks – that is Zaragoza for you. You might miss out on the beach, but Zaragoza is definitely one of the more interesting destinations in Spain. It is also the home of one of the most celebrated festivals in Spain – las fiestas del Pilar. 

Piran, Slovenia

3. Piran, Slovenia

Slovenia actually has a coastline. It’s approximately 20 kilometers long and Piran is one of the towns on the Slovenian Istria. It is a quaint town: with medieval architecture, narrow streets and compact houses. To that, you can add charming lighthouses, delicious food, and the sea. If you want to go to a place more off the beaten path than Croatia, choose Piran!

Read more about Piran >>

Åland Islands, Finland

2. The Åland Islands, Finland

The sea might be cold and the streets empty after 5 pm. However, if you are looking for peace and quiet, an active holiday, or sunbathing on red rocks – then the Åland Islands might be for you. Fishing, cycling, kayaking, or golf – these are some of the things you can do on this autonomous group of islands that actually has an interesting history as well.

Read more about the Åland Islands >> 

Skopje, Macedonia

1. Skopje, Macedonia

Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, is small but spectacular. Golden statues and ancient sites remind of the city’s past – a past that is fascinating, problematic and complex. Breathtaking nature is only a stone’s throw away and the food (and wine!) is delicious.

Read more about Skopje >> 

Which are the places on your list of the top European destinations off the beaten path?

Detta inlägg har 24 kommentarer

  1. Sherianne

    I love finding suggestions like this. I enjoy the iconic destinations but like to mix in some unexpected places in my trips. I will definitely check out Piran

    1. Jesper

      Piran was indeed amazing. I hope that you will be able to check it out one day. 🙂

  2. Soumya Nambiar

    I haven’t been to any of the places you have mentioned here and I plan to keep this in mind for next time I am in Europe. It is such a pity that I haven’t done Eastern Europe till now. One of my friends fell in love with Vilinus and he has already convinced me to go there next time I am in Europe.

    1. Jesper

      Vilnius was really nice and I can only agree with your friend that you should visit the city. 🙂

  3. Melissa

    Ok, just want to first say that I LOVE this list. I’m so interested in learning about some of the less popular European destinations. The only one I’ve been to on your list so far is Bratislava. I’d love to eventually see all of them, but Piran definitely piques my interest…it looks so quaint, plus it’s on the coast!

    1. Jesper

      Piran was a really nice surprise. As you mention it, most of these places are not along the coast, can it be because most coastal cities already is famous tourist spots? 🙂

  4. Suruchi

    I had always heard about the tourist destinations in Europe but this is really offbeat. love such lists and wanna explore all of them. They all look great. Will be bookmarking the same for my future travel to Europe. Thanks for sharing this.

    1. Jesper

      Hope that you will be able to visit a few of these places. I’m sure that it will be worth your time to get away of the cities like Rome and Paris for a few days to visit a few less known places. 🙂

  5. Tatum

    Literally never heard of any of these places! Those names are pretty much off the beaten path too haha. I love visiting unique places that not everyone goes to! Great list!

    1. Jesper

      Thank you, Tatum. Even though some of these are capitals, they are still a bit unknown for many travelers. 🙂

  6. Sandy N Vyjay

    Europe is such an amazing continent with cities and towns that ooze old world charm. These are really some unsung gems fro the continent. Some of them I have not heard about too. Probably that is what adds to the allure of these places. They have an aura of purity which is so endearing.

    1. Jesper

      The list could really have been a lot longer, as you say – there are a lot of interesting towns and cities in Europe. 🙂

  7. SindhuMurthy

    Woow! This is just the kind of list I love to explore. I m not sure of all the places in the list but I would definitely love to spend a few days in Piran. The sea line and the red roofs look so attractive. It looks like a photographers paradise.

    1. Jesper

      Piran was for sure a perfect place for photography. 🙂

    2. Jesper

      Piran was for sure a perfect place for photography. 🙂

  8. These places look awesome and I’ve never heard of most of them. I do like seeing the famous cities that are usually on guide but great to see the lesser know ones. Great job exploring and finding these for us so we are in on your travel secrets.

    1. Jesper

      Thank you, we are happy to share our travel advice and even better when someone likes it. 🙂

  9. sophie

    Such a great list. I have heard about most of the places from this list except for the one from Macedonia. The place looks amazing. I can definitely plan some trip over there after doing some more research. thanks for sharing this list. Cheers

    1. Jesper

      Thank you, Sophie. Skopje was actually a really nice surprise when we visited it. The capital of Macedonia had a lot more history than we had thought it would. 🙂

  10. Indrani

    I am glad I have done 3 out of this list. Loved Zaragoza.
    Bratislava tough may not be off beat as it is the capital of Slovakia… my opinion.

    1. Jesper

      Some of the places are quite small, so nice to hear that you have been to 3 out of them. 🙂
      Regarding Bratislava, our thought is more that it is usually missed as people want to go to Vienna, Prague or Budapest instead. There are also two more capitals on the list. Bratislava might have quite a few visitors, but it is generally not that known of. 🙂

  11. This is a wonderful list. Especially the East European countries still have a lot to offer. I have a great desire to explore Lithuania and nearby countries that used to be a part of USSR earlier.

    1. Jesper

      Thank you, Jitaditya. The Baltic states really has a lot to offer, hope that you will be able to visit them one day. 🙂

  12. Joanna

    I have only been to Bratislava from your wonderful list of destinations and I really enjoyed it. It is indeed a very small place but cheap, with plenty of good food and wine and enjoyable to walk through. The views from up the castle are wonderful and the city itself is peaceful to walk through because there are not so many tourists.

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