Ten Not-So-Obvious European Cities to Visit

First of all, let’s set things straight: the “obvious” cities to visit in Europe—think London, Paris, Rome, even Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona—are obvious for a reason. They contain some of the world’s best museums, they’re packed with iconic landmarks, and they do make you feel like you’re someplace special (even when you’ve been lining up for two hours for tickets to the Eiffel Tower). In short, they live up to the hype. They are places you need to see. But, having seen them, you may want to turn your attentions to some other gems the continent has to offer. And that’s where this list comes in.

These cities were carefully chosen to get the balance right between being not so well-known and being completely obscure. You’ve probably heard of these places, even if you don’t know too much about them. They are off the beaten track in that they are not the first cities that spring to mind when people think about visiting Europe, but they are not literally off the beaten track—they are all relatively easy to get to. If you’re looking for tourist-free, locals-only kind of places, this list may not be for you—these are not top-secret locations by any means (although the crowds of tourists are noticeably fewer).

Some of these cities can be seen in a day (Canterbury, for example), while others need a bit more time for exploring (Budapest springs to mind), but all are packed with culture and fantastic things to see, do, and eat. Perfect for travellers who are not yet ready to venture beyond Europe, but have seen its major cities, these ten picks offer a little something for everyone.

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