8 European Cities You’ve Never Thought To Visit
Summer is on its way, so why not take advantage of some European cities to visit! While you might be tempted to visit popular cities like Amsterdam or Barcelona, there are so many amazing cities in Europe that a worth a visit that you probably never even thought of before. So, here are some more options of cities to visit in Europe you never thought to visit, to inspire your wanderlust.
Vitoria – Gasteiz, Spain
This northern Spanish city is often dismissed due to its popular neighbours, Bilbao and San Sebastian, however this medieval city is a forgotten gem. You’ll be amazed at the lack of transport you’ll see around the central plazas, and delighted at the beautiful medieval architecture and Mediterranean drinking atmosphere. One of our top European cities on our list to visit this summer!
Tavira, Portugal
If you want to see what the Algarve looked like before tourism brought the English looking for some sun, this is the city to visit. This city exudes a Portuguese charm, as its filled with churches and lacks huge hotels, but its beautiful beaches and castle ruins will leave you with plenty to see.
Umea, Sweden
This is the home to the author of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson, and was nominated European City of Culture in 2014. While it maintains to be reasonably unknown for British travellers, it’s a fantastic city with many cultural sites. It’s also a great place to spot the Northern Lights, as it’s only 400km below the Arctic Circle.
Bregenz, Austria
Located on the shores of Lake Constance, this city is known for its summer music festival that features a floating stage over the lake. But this city is worth visiting even if you miss the festival, as it’s filled with culture for those with modern and traditional tastes. Take a stroll down the medieval streets or climb the Pfänder mountain for some amazing views.
Lübeck, Germany
This Unesco World Heritage site is nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Baltic’, but is often overlooked by tourists. This city is filled with beautiful 12th Century architecture, and an abundance of history to match it. Walk along the Trave River to be enchanted by it’s medieval atmosphere.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Classed as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, it is nestled between seven hills. If you visit you have to go to the old town, which is packed with museums and galleries that were mansions in the 19th Century. This city is following Sofia in becoming a cosmopolitan hotspot, with different festivals attracting crowds every year, and has been given the title of European Capital of Culture for 2019.
Trieste, Italy
This port town is almost completely surrounded by Slovenia, making it culturally different from many other Italian cities. It’s been noted for its fantastic coffee, congenial bars and a home for writers and misfits, and it’s a great base to explore the vineyards in Carso and Collio.
Aarhus, Denmark
Completely forgotten by tourists who flood to Copenhagen, Aarthus is filled with experiences that would make it a fantastic city break for this summer. The skywalk at the top of the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum is the cities best known landmark, however it’s also filled with three Michelin-starred restaurants and the world’s best library.
Here are the European cities we are dying to visit this summer! Which ones have you visited?
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A small town girl living in a big city