Discover Europe’s most underrated city breaks, from colourful coastal towns to historic hidden gems that deserve a place on your travel bucket list.

Rome, Paris, London. It’s undebatable that Europe is home to some of the world’s best and well known cities. But what if you want more from Europe than another selfie outside the Eiffel tower? What if you want to go somewhere off the beaten track but every Europe search you do just throws up another image of the Colosseum? *

Fear not, for the more curious city traveler, I have pulled together my list of hidden gem European cities. Here we go… 

*This is meant with no disrespect to either the Eiffel Tower or Colosseum. For the record, I think both are utterly astonishing. 

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Ljubljana, Slovenia  

Lubby-what, I hear you say?! Once you’ve got past the spelling, Ljubljana, is one of the most unexpectedly pretty, friendly & vibrant cities, without the footfall (or price tag) of many of its famous neighbors. If you are wondering where on the earth it is, Ljubljana is the capital of the incredibly beautiful country of Slovenia and is my number one favourite hidden gem European city.

Modern coffee shops on every corner, beautiful cobbled streets, a stunning river running through the centre of the city, castles on hills…what more could you want? What about food, accommodation & activities without blowing your bank balance…yes, Ljubljana has that too! 

Top tip!: Why stop at Ljubljana when the rest of Slovenia is so beautiful? Hiking the Julian Alps, waltzing through Triglav National Park, swimming in Lake Bled…I could go on. If you really want to push the boat out, how about flying into Venice for a weekend on the gondolas prior to an easy 2 hour drive to Ljubljana? 

Top tip 2!: If the sound of Slovenia tickles your pickle, check out my full 7 day itinerary to Slovenia to uncover all its hidden gems

Gothenburg, Sweden 

Visiting Sweden, all my hopes were pinned on Stockholm. Given how much I loved Copenhagen I was sure I’d be equally as obsessed with Sweden’s capital. Did I like it? Yes, absolutely! Did I LOVE it? I won’t answer that question directly but to experience all that Sweden has to offer, why not also consider the lesser visited Gothenburg? 

Gothenburg had the quaint feel & beautiful architecture I was hoping for in Sweden. A particular favourite neighborhood was historic Haga, characterised by cobbled streets and cute boutique shops. What I loved about the architecture here was it adopted the typical Gothenburg style where the lower floor is constructed of brick, the upper level in wood, which makes for very quaint and pretty streets around this area. 

But Gothenburg isn’t all about pretty buildings, it is fortunate to also be blessed with a surprising number of green spaces including some beautiful botanical gardens. The best known is Southwestern Gothenburg Botanical Garden which is well worth a visit, but if you are more explorative, check out the more hidden rose gardens & greenhouses in canal-side Kungsparken. Speaking of outdoors, also don’t forget to explore Gothenburg’s archipelago and its stunning islands accessible by ferry. 

Finally and possibly one of the most underrated parts of this city is the drinks & gastronomy. You can find any cuisine imaginable in this beautiful city, not to mention the incredible number of out of this world Swedish restaurants. My husband still claims he had the best meal of his life in Gothenburg at a restaurant called Bord 27. Last but not least if you love kicking back in a modern coffee place (with actual decent coffee), you will also not be disappointed. 

Top Tip! Why choose between cities when you could do both! It’s about a 5 hour drive with more than enough to see along the way including beautiful lakes, enchanted forests and more. Read my full 10 day road trip guide for Sweden to discover where we stopped on my favourite road trip of all time (for now)! 

Istanbul, Türkiye

Ok fine, it’s arguably not a lesser known European city, but one that doesn’t often appear on your average top European city list. Here is why it’s on my top hidden gem cities in Europe list…

Quite literally the meeting point between the East and the West, culture wise, it doesn’t get more exciting than Istanbul. Whether you want to soak up some of the world’s most fascinating history, taste sensational cuisine for every meal, get lost in beautiful traditional Turkish markets (Grand Bazar being the best known favourite) or even sail from Europe to Asia in 20 minutes, this city has everything and more. 

Istanbul has too many incredible but contrasting neighborhoods to mention them all but here are some of the highlights: 

• Karaköy for one of the oldest parts of the city, home to beautiful cobbled streets and the must see Galata tower. 
• Topane is a collection of streets decorated with colourful lights and hangings with some of Istanbul’s coolest and most authentic bars & restaurants (you can’t go wrong)
• Balat was known for being the center of the Jewish & Greek community and is unforgettable thanks to its iconic beautiful coloured houses
• Sultanahmet arguably contains two of the world’s most beautiful mosques (with Hagir Sofia & Blue Moon Mosque being the stand out options)

FYI: If you are a cat person, you are especially going to love Istanbul. In fact, you would do well to find a street in Istanbul without a population of cats.

Sofia, Bulgaria 

If you’re after one of Europe’s best value city breaks, Sofia quietly deserves a place near the top of your list. Often overlooked in favour of its more famous Eastern European neighbours, Bulgaria’s capital somehow manages to combine ancient Roman ruins, grand Orthodox cathedrals, colourful street art and a surprisingly trendy café scene, all with the dramatic backdrop of Mount Vitosha watching over the city.

One of my favourite things about Sofia is that it doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard. It’s relaxed, refreshingly authentic and incredibly walkable. One minute you’re wandering past the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the next you’re standing above the remains of an ancient Roman city hidden beneath modern streets, before finishing the afternoon with a coffee along lively Vitosha Boulevard. It feels cultured without being pretentious and busy without ever becoming overwhelming.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of all was Sofia’s food and drink scene. We stumbled across some fantastic cocktail bars serving drinks that wouldn’t have looked out of place in London or Copenhagen, yet at a fraction of the price. The restaurant scene is equally impressive, with everything from stylish modern bistros to traditional Bulgarian taverns tucked away down side streets. And then there’s the wine. I’ll admit I hadn’t given Bulgarian wine much thought before visiting, but I left wondering why more people aren’t talking about it. 

And then there’s the price. If you’ve recently looked at the cost of a weekend in Paris or Amsterdam, Sofia will come as a welcome surprise. Boutique hotels, excellent restaurants and rooftop bars are all remarkably affordable, making it one of those rare European capitals where you don’t feel guilty saying yes to dessert…and another cocktail.

If you’ve got an extra day to spare, I’d highly recommend escaping the city altogether and heading up Mount Vitosha. Just a short journey from the centre, you’ll swap historic streets for hiking trails, panoramic viewpoints and fresh mountain air. It’s not every capital city where you can spend the morning exploring Roman ruins and the afternoon hiking through nature.

Perfect for: Couples, weekend city breaks, history lovers, foodies and travellers looking for an affordable European escape that’s still flying under the radar.

York, UK 

Most travellers considering visiting the UK (whether domestic or international), have heard of or already done the more obvious London, Cambridge, Bath UK city breaks and don’t want to venture as far as Scotland, may I suggest the beautiful city of York. 

Often overlooked due to its distance and nearby competitor cities sometimes stealing focus, York is a fantastic choice for those looking for a beautiful, historic city with plenty to see and do. With its thriving bar & restaurant scene, York is certainly not to be mistaken as a quiet or boring city. That said, if quiet is what you are looking for, York also has the advantage of being surrounded by gorgeous countryside in almost every direction (aka, The stunning Yorkshire Moors) – so why not combine a relaxing country retreat with fun city highlights?

So from day trips to the well renowned racecourse, to as many hours as you wish in your fascinating museum(s) of choice, shopping galore, unforgettable* nights out or endless hikes on the moors, York has it all. 

*or forgettable depending on the quality and quantity of your tipple of choice. 

So there you have it, my list of top under the radar European city breaks! Please share your comments and experiences in these wonderful destinations.