Europe (J-Z) » 7 Beautiful European Cities You Haven’t Considered Visiting

7 Beautiful European Cities You Haven’t Considered Visiting

From Seville and Tallinn, to Athens, Riga and St Petersburg, it’s time to venture away from the obvious and consider these lesser-visited cities in Europe.

When I think of my favourite European destinations, many of them are the tried and tested choices, with Barcelona sitting at the top of the list. But there are plenty of underrated European cities that are packed with all the good stuff – culture, top restaurants, beautiful architecture, and that a bit of adventure too!

So if you fancy shaking up your holiday habits, why not book a mini-break to check out a few of these less-visited choices?

Seville, Spain

I visited Seville a couple of years ago on a wonderful road trip around Andalucía. I absolutely loved Seville. I remember trying to drive around the city’s tiny, skinny streets, petrified of scraping the car against the walls! It’s a stunning city though, and along with the impressive Plaza De Espana, Real Alcázar de Sevilla and Seville Cathedral, I also loved discovering some great restaurants.

Plaza De Espana, Seville, Spain
Plaza De Espana, Seville, Spain

I’d recommend a trip to Lonja Del Barranco – an upmarket food market serving everything from croquettes and seafood to wine and beer.

Mercado Lonja Barranco, Seville, Spain
Mercado Lonja Barranco, Seville, Spain

Athens, Greece

Greek holidays are often focused on beautiful beaches, boat trips and island hopping, but there’s so much history and culture in Athens, it would be a shame to miss it!

View of Athens, Greece
View of Athens, Greece

For me, it takes me back to history at primary school, and my fascination with ancient Greece! I’d love to visit The Acropolis and Parthenon on my first Athens trip. There’s also a really buzzing food scene, plenty of incredible street art and a cool hipster neighbourhood – all of which I’d absolutely love to visit.

View from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece
View from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is one of my favourite discoveries from the past few years. I was only there a few days, after a whirlwind adventure around Scandinavia and the Baltics. It’s a remarkably well-preserved medieval city, complete with ancient city walls made from limestone, a picturesque town hall, and brightly coloured buildings lining cobble streets.

View of Tallinn, Estonia
View of Tallinn, Estonia

Yet, it’s not a city that’s stuck in the past. There’s a wonderful, creative vibe and you really get a feel for that as you wander from shop to shop. There are lots of quirky design stores, unique boutiques and eateries serving modern, gastronomic food. I visited in the summer but after seeing photos of the town hall covered in a blanket of snow., I’d love to return in the winter.

Tallinn's colourful streets
Tallinn’s colourful streets

Marseille, France

Shocker, there’s more to France than a quick trip to Paris every now and then! The 2000-year-old port city of Marseille is somewhere I’d love to visit, and while it’s got a tourist buzz, it’s not as full on as Paris! From museums to markets and art galleries to unique shops, it’s one of the most underrated cities in Europe.

Marseille, France
Marseille, France

On your first trip you have to head up to Notre Dame de la Garde, one of Marseille’s most famous landmarks. The church is situated on the top of a hill overlooking the city and the sea and while the church itself is beautiful, the views from up there are spectacular! Also be sure to visit The Vieux Port (Old Harbour) to snap some pics, try some fresh fish and seafood or take a ride on the famous Ferris wheel.

Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille
Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseille

Riga, Latvia

While The Baltics may have made a name for themselves from being frequented by rowdy stag dos, there’s plenty more to them. Riga in particular is a very pretty city with colourful squares, a wonderful 17th century tower and the famous Freedom Monument.

Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia

One of my favourite places was Egle – a fun bar/restaurant with a bright circus-like feel and live music.

Munich, Germany

Everyone is so obsessed with visiting Berlin that Munich barely gets a look in, unless you’re visiting for Oktoberfest. The German city has plenty to offer though, and while not a huge petrol head, I really enjoyed my visit to BMW Welt last autumn. The car museum has its very own racetrack and some of the most impressive models from BMW, Rolls Royce and Mini on display.

The city is also home to plenty of top places to stay including boutique hotel Flushing Meadows in the vibrant Glockenbach district and centrally-located hotel The Louis. Keen on art? Squeeze in a trip to Lenbachhaus Museum, which is home to a wide selection of Expressionist art.

Munich city centre, Germany
Munich city centre, Germany

St. Petersburg, Russia

Often overlooked, perhaps for political reasons or the fact the Russian visa system is complicated (!) St Petersburg is a perfect trip for architecture lovers. I’ve heard others describe the city as an open-air architecture museum! The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world and renowned for its green façade and extravagantly decorated interior.

The Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia
The Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Russia

Meanwhile, Peterhof Palace lies just west of St Petersburg and is often referred to as the Russian Versailles with its vast palaces and stunning gardens. For something extra special, climb the colonnade at St Isaac’s Cathedral and take in the impressive views of the city. That’s when you’ll really get a feel for how much incredible architecture there is!

Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg, Russia
Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg, Russia

What cities in Europe do you think are underrated? Let me know in the comments below!

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7 Beautiful European Cities You Haven't Considered Visiting

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

16 thoughts on “7 Beautiful European Cities You Haven’t Considered Visiting”

  1. I think Milan is often overlooked in favour of Rome, Florence and Venice but it’s one of my favourite European cities by far. Plus flights from the UK are generally reasonable and the public transport from the airport into the city is great!

    Reply
  2. Hoping to travel Tallin, Riga, St Petersburg this summer. I read you can get 72hr visa for St. Petersburg if you take the ferry in.

    One of my fav discoveries is Budapest and krackow!

    Love your blog and IG. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. I would also add one more destination, that is not obvious but worth considering. It would be Warsaw in Poland. My friend took me there few weeks ago and I was surprised how much I liked this city. There are so many fantastic attractions and places, I regret not going earlier! One of my favorite spots there was a bar where we celebrated my friend’s birthday. It was called Bubbles, and it had such an unique atmosphere, I felt great right away. We had delicious dinner and tried some great champagnes. I will for sure visit Warsaw and this bar again one day!

    Reply
  4. Visited Salzburg a couple if years ago. I was very impressed with striking architecture and the quiet pace if life. There are a lot of street cafes in narrow cobbled streets. I felt i was back in time of Mozart.

    Reply

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